Epidemiology of Aphasia Attributable to First Ischemic Stroke

Abstract

Background and Purpose-In a geographically defined population, we assessed incidence and determinants of aphasia attributable to first-ever ischemic stroke (FEIS). MethodsA 1-year prospective, population-based study among the permanent residents of the canton Basle City, Switzerland, was performed using multiple overlapping sources of information. Results-Among 188 015 inhabitants, 269 patients had FEIS, of whom 80 (30%; 95% CI, 24 to 36) had aphasia. The overall incidence rate of aphasia attributable to FEIS amounted to 43 per 100 000 inhabitants (95% CI, 33 to 52). Aphasic stroke patients were older than nonaphasic patients. The risk of aphasia attributable to FEIS increased by 4% (95% CI, 1% to 7%), and after controlling for atrial fibrillation, by 3% (95% CI, 1% to 7%) with each year of patients' age. Gender had no effect on incidence, severity, or fluency of aphasia. Cardioembolism was more frequent in aphasic stroke patients than in nonaphasic ones (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.07 to 3.20). Aphasic patients sought medical help earlier than nonaphasic stroke patients. Still, after controlling for stroke onset-assessment interval, aphasic stroke patients were more likely to receive thrombolysis than nonaphasics (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.12 to 10.96). Conclusion-Annually, 43 of 100 000 inhabitants had aphasia resulting from first ischemic stroke. Advancing age and cardioembolism were associated with an increased risk for aphasia. Severity and fluency of aphasia were not affected by demographic variables.

Choral singing therapy following stroke or Parkinson’s disease: an exploration of participants’ experiences

“…Aphasia is a language disorder limiting the ability of up to one-third of stroke survivors to access, use, and understand words [2]. Co-morbid motor speech problems include apraxia of speech and dysarthria, causing difficulty speaking, poor voice quality, imprecise articulation, and reduced perception/production of speech prosody [3].…”

“…Speech language therapy programmes exist for people with PD [20] and stroke [21] but access to them is limited by high costs and limited availability of therapists [2,20]. While short-term speech language therapy after acute stroke is generally provided, long-term care for people with stroke or PD is not routine, resulting in many unmet needs [22][23][24].…”

Prognosis of aphasia in stroke patients early after iv thrombolysis

“…These patients are increasingly treated with thrombolysis. Retrospective studies showed that patients with mild stroke symptoms and low baseline NIHSS scores may benefit from thrombolysis with low complication rates [6,7]. On the other hand could it be shown that spontaneous recovery of aphasia as measured by NIHSS occurred in 74% of all and 90 % of patients with mild stroke symptoms after six months [8].…”

Développement d'un instrument d'évaluation de l'anomie tenant compte de l'effet de re-test

“…38 sujets de langue maternelle française, âgés de 48 ans et plus (en relation avec l'augmentation de l'incidence d'une attaque cérébrale en fonction de l'âge [8]) ont été testés. Les critères d'exclusion étaient: un trouble auditif ou visuel; une anesthésie générale dans les trois mois avant l'examen; une hospitalisation due à une maladie psychiatrique; un traumatisme cérébral ou une maladie neurologique; des maladies systémiques graves; des douleurs sous n'importe quelle forme.…”