engleski

The burden of paediatric stroke and cerebrovascular disorders in Croatia

Pediatric stroke is significantly less common than stroke in adults, but represents a major challenge to public health authorities. Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to identify the total and annual number of children younger than 18 years with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) referred to the Children’ s Hospital Zagreb, which is a major national center specialized for the treatment and prevention of stroke in children. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of the Department of Neuropediatrics database at the Children’ s Hospital Zagreb between 1998-2005 in order to provide demographic and clinical characterisics and neuroimaging findings in children with AIS Results: In the 7-year period we identified a total of 124 children from different geographic areas of Croatia with a confirmed diagnosis of TIA (N=77), and AIS (N=47). Perinatal and childhood AIS were equally represented (23 and 24 children, respectively). The average number of new cases identified each year was 18 cases (range: 12-21), 7 AIS and 11 TIA cases. Male predominance was found in children with AIS with a male: female ratio of 1.76:1, and was slightly higher in childhood AIS compared to perinatal AIS (2:1 and 1.56:1, respectively). In contrast, TIA was more frequently found in girls, and more likely identified in older children compared to younger children with AIS. Conclusion: Obtained data will contribute to better understanding of pediatric stroke in Croatia and will provide a base for the establishment of the national referral center and national pediatric stroke registry.

adolescent; arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS); children; epidemiology; paediatric; transient ischaemic

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