A study to determine stroke incidence, causes, treatments and outcomes for Aboriginal peoples of South Australia and the Northern Territory is feasible: a prospective population-based pilot study.

Abstract

Background: Robust estimates of stroke incidence among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (Aboriginal Peoples) are unavailable; previous studies have been metropolitan based and included few Aboriginal Peoples. In addition, research including Aboriginal Peoples has often neglected to incorporate the CONSolIDated critERia (CONSIDER) reporting guidelines. Aim(s): We performed a pilot stroke incidence study, focused on feasibility and inclusion of the CONSIDER reporting guidelines, to model the design of a future population-based study aiming to definitively determine stroke incidence, antecedents, treatment, and outcomes. Method(s): All patients aged >=15 years residing within pre-defined postcodes of South Australia and the Northern Territory (population 885,472 with 5.1% being Aboriginal Peoples), admitted to specific hospitals and diagnosed with acute stroke between 01/10/2015 and 31/12/2015. Result(s): Over the three-month duration, 123 people with first-ever strokes were identified, 10 (8%) selfidentifying as Aboriginal. The study demonstrated feasibility, specifically for establishing sample size, diagnostic confirmation, identifying incident events, confirming stroke subtypes, establishing a stable population, standardizing data for global comparison and ethical research as per the CONSIDER reporting guidelines. Conclusion(s): A larger population-based stroke incidence study is both feasible and urgently needed to provide robust estimates of stroke incidence, antecedents, treatments and outcomes in Aboriginal Peoples, to help guide disparity-reduction.