Socioeconomic Status and Long-Term Stroke Mortality, Recurrence and Disability in Iran: The Mashhad Stroke Incidence Study

Negar Morovatdar, Amanda G. Thrift, Saverio Stranges, Moira Kapral, Reza Behrouz, Amin Amiri, Abbas Heshmati, Amirali Ghahremani, Mohammad Taghi Farzadfard, Naghmeh Mokhber, Mahmoud Reza Azarpazhooh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the association between socioeconomic status and long-term stroke outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Methods: Patients were recruited from the Mashhad Stroke Incidence Study in Iran. We identified different socioeconomic variables including the level of education, occupation, household size, and family income. Residential location according to patient's neighbourhood was classified into less privileged area (LPA), middle privileged area and high privileged area (HPA). Using Cox regression, competing risk analysis and logistic regression models, we determined the association between socioeconomic status and 1- and 5-year stroke outcomes. Generalized linear model was used for adjusting associated variables for stroke severity. Results: Six hundred twenty-four patients with first-ever stroke were recruited in this study. Unemployment prior to stroke was associated with an increased risk of 1- and 5-year post-stroke mortality (1 year: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.3; 95% CI 1.6-7.06: p = 0.001; 5 years: aHR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-3.6: p = 0.007). The 5-year mortality rate was higher in less educated patients (<12 years) as compared to those with at least 12 years of schooling (aHR 1.84; 95% CI 1.05-3.23: p = 0.03). Patients living in LPA compared to those living in HPAs experienced a more severe stroke at admission (aB 3.84; 95% CI 0.97-6.71, p = 0.009) and disabling stroke at 1 year follow-up (OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.3-28.4; p = 0.02). Conclusion: A comprehensive stroke strategy should also address socioeconomic disadvantages.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)27-31
Number of pages5
JournalNeuroepidemiology
Volume53
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2019

Keywords

  • Disability
  • Mortality
  • Population-based studies
  • Recurrence
  • Socioeconomic
  • Stroke

Cite this