Study on cerebrovascular disease of the elderly in China.

The average incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in China were markedly increased with increase of age and were much higher in senile stage and males than those in presenile stage and females. The constituent ratio of CVD consisted cerebral infarction for 67.5% and cerebral hemorrhage about 24.8%. There was no difference between the characters of lesions confirmed by CT scan in senile and presenile groups. The majority of CT lesions in the two groups was lacunar infarction, being 76.3% and 85.9% respectively. There were more cases of lobar hemorrhage in the senile group. The most important risk factor for CVD was hypertension (65.8%). Heart disease and diabetes mellitus take second place, accounting 19.0% and 10.7% respectively. The incidence of mixed type of hypertension was high in CVD especially the isolated systolic hypertension. The incidence of cerebral stroke was obviously higher than myocardial infarction in China. The percentage of positive findings of atherosclerosis in extracranial portion of carotid artery system in elderly patients with thrombosis and transient ischemic attacks was 60-100% and 55-100%.