Introduction:

cerebrovascular diseases are a serious global health problem.

Objective:

to characterize the clinical behaviour of cerebrovascular diseases in a primary care area.

Methods:

a cross-sectional study was conducted at Policlínico Alcides Pino Bermúdez, Holguín, Cuba, during 2006 - 2012. The sample consisted of 282 patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD), from the universe of 47 936 patients in the health area.

Results:

the frequency of CVD was 588 patients per 100 000 inhabitants. The group of 60-69 years old (47.87%) and the male sex (55.32%) prevailed. Associated risk factors were: high blood pressure (54.96%), smoking (40.78%), heart disease (26.95%) and diabetes mellitus (17.02%). Ischemic CVD was present in 82.62% and hemorrhagic CVD in 49 patients (17.37%). Atherothrombotic infarction (47.35%) and transient ischemic attack (21.88%) predominated in ischemic CVD. Intracerebral hemorrhage affected 65.30% and subarachnoid hemorrhage 34.69% of patients with hemorrhagic CVD. Most cases occurred in the morning (63.47%) and were attended in the hospital ward (80.49%).

Conclusions:

most of the affected patients were older men with associated risk factors, with ischemic CVD, occurring predominantly in the morning hours and attended at hospitals. Training of medical staff for early diagnosis is recommended.

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