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The epidemiology of stroke in Africa: A systematic review of existing methods and new approaches.

Mayowa Ojo OwolabiPaul OlowoyoFemi PopoolaDaniel LacklandCarolyn JenkinsOyedunni ArulogunRufus AkinyemiOdunayo AkinyemiOnoja AkpaOlanrewaju OlaniyanEzinne UvereIssa KehindeAnbesaw SelassieMulugeta GebregziabherRaelle TaggeBruce Ovbiagele
Published in: Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) (2017)
Accurate epidemiological surveillance of the burden of stroke is direly needed to facilitate the development and evaluation of effective interventions in Africa. The authors therefore conducted a systematic review of the methodology of stroke epidemiological studies conducted in Africa from 1970 to 2017 using gold standard criteria obtained from landmark epidemiological publications. Of 1330 articles extracted, only 50 articles were eligible for review grouped under incidence, prevalence, case-fatality, health-related quality of life, and disability-adjusted life-years studies. Because of various challenges, no study fulfilled the criteria for an excellent stroke incidence study. The relatively few stroke epidemiology studies in Africa have significant methodological flaws. Innovative approaches leveraging available information and communication technology infrastructure are recommended to facilitate rigorous epidemiological studies for accurate stroke surveillance in Africa.
Keyphrases
  • atrial fibrillation
  • risk factors
  • public health
  • multiple sclerosis
  • case control
  • high resolution
  • mass spectrometry
  • social media
  • blood brain barrier
  • health information