Author(s): Arsalan Moinuddin, James Lewsey, Sally Inglis
Stroke data on 157,639 incident stroke hospitalization in Scotland between 1986-2005 were obtained from Information Service Division Unit of Scotland. Monthly as well as seasonal variations in the frequency of incident stroke and its subtypes were evaluated by using Chi square goodness of fit test. Overall incident strokes show statically significant monthly (P < 0 .001; highest, December 9.0% and lowest : September 7.7%) variations. Depending upon stroke subtypes monthly variation was in the incident strokes frequency for ICH (December : 9.1% ; September : 7.7 %), IS (December; 8.8% ; September : 7.9%) and NS (December: 9.2 % ; September : 7.6 %). No statistically significant monthly variation was observed for subarachnoid haemorrhage. Factors promoting hypercoagulable state seem to be responsible for high frequency of incident stroke.