Low incidence of stroke in southern Italy: a population-based study.

Background And Purpose: Although a lower incidence of stroke has been observed in the Mediterranean area compared to other European countries, this is based on only a few studies. We sought to determine the incidence and 28-day case-fatality of stroke through a population-based stroke register in a rural area in Southern Italy, characterized by a stroke unit in the referral hospital.

Methods: We established a multisource prospective population-based register in a well defined geographic area of 38 735 inhabitants in Puglia, Southern Italy.