Abstract

PUENTES MADERA, Isabel Cristina. Epidemiology of the cerebrovascular diseases of extracranial origin. Rev Cubana Angiol Cir Vasc. [online]. 2014, vol.15, n.2, pp. 66-74. ISSN 1682-0037.

Introduction: the cerebrovascular illnesses are a world health problem; they hold the third place among the diseases in Cuba, but the particular place of the carotid artery diseases is still unknown. Objectives: to update the epidemiologic information on the cerebrovascular diseases, particularly those of extracranial origin. Methods: the information was collected from the following databases: register of trials of the Cochrane Peripheral Vascular Diseases Group, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, leading journals with cerebrovascular disease studies, and articles in different web pages published in the last five years. The subject headings were epidemiology, cerebrovascular illness, carotid disease. Information synthesis: in the western countries, the cerebrovascular diseases are the third cause of mortality after the cardiovascular diseases and neoplasias, accounting for 10% of deaths. They are the first cause of disability in the adult and the second cause of dementia. According to the World Health Organization, 15 million persons suffer ictus every year; 5.5 millions die (10 % of all deaths) and 5 millions show some permanent disability. Although the incidence rate is higher in the elderly, a shift to youngest ages has been observed. Conclusions: the cerebrovascular disease is a prevailing illness with high morbidity and mortality rates, which demands a lot of care and hospitalization with considerable health and social costs.

Keywords : epidemiology; cerebrovascular disease; carotid disease.

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