Cerebrovascular disease or stroke is the third leading cause of death and an important cause of hospital admission and long-term disability in most industrialized populations. The reliable population-based incidence data of stroke is rare in developing countries. In this present study, our aim is to find the incidence of stroke in relation to risk factors and also to know the incidence of stroke and risk factors in the young population as seen in Benghazi. Subjects and Methods Benghazi is a well-defined geographic area and has a stable population. The people of Libya are of mixed Arab, African, Turkish and Southern European descent.
Medical care is free.
Besides this, state-financed medical treatment abroad, the desire to obtain disability certificates for tax benefits, and to quit compulsory army service encourage people to attend the clinics even for minor problems. Neurology outpatient clinics are conducted in polyclinics six days per week. The neurology unit in the 7th April Hospital in Benghazi provides extensive neurology services to the northeastern region of Libya. All incident cases of stroke occurring among the Libyan residents of Benghazi were ascertained for a three year period between January of 1991 and December of 1993 through polyclinics, university hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Patients with transient ischemic attacks, previous history of stroke, vascular malformation or those living outside the Benghazi area were excluded from the study.