The incidence of stroke in pediatric patients in Brazil

Abstract

Background: Stroke is rare in pediatric patients, but it is of paramount importance due to its serious complications. The study of the incidence of strokes in these patients is important for us to be able to adequate public health policies. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of strokes in pediatric patients in Brazil. Design and setting: Descriptive, retrospective study, carried out using data from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS), from 2011 to 2020. Methods: Variables: brain stroke not specific for the hemorrhagic or ischemic type, mortality, hospitalizations, sex, ethnicity and age group from 0 to 19 years of age. Results: During the period from 2011 from 2020, there were a total of 6912 cases of stroke in the age group from 0 to 19 years; the highest incidence in 2019 (10.59%) and the lowest incidence in 2020 (8.65%.) The age group from 15 to 19 accumulated the greatest number of cases (60.40%). The total mortality rate was 8.12% (561 cases). The highest mortality rate was observed between 15 and 19 years of age (62.03%), and the lowest between 5 and 9 years of age(4.63%). The incidence was slightly higher in males (50.41%). Conclusions: Similar annual stroke rates were identified during the analyzed period, demonstrating the need for interventional actions to reduce its incidence. The non-specification of the hemorrhagic or ischemic types is a limiting factor, since the prevention management is different in each case. There was a higher prevalence, as well as a higher mortality rate, from 15 to 19 years.