STEPS Stroke in the Carribbean

Thomas Truelsen, PhD, DMSc, Consultant in Neurologi, Copenhagen, Denmark

Purpose

The purpose of the STEPS-Stroke workshop is to...

Make participants familiar with the STEPS Stroke manual;

High-light potential problems and provide technical support on how to avoid them;

Discussion experiences conducting stroke surveillance in the Carribean region;

Develop the core structure for future stroke surveillance activities in the region based on STEPS Stroke

Rationale for Stroke Surveillance Stroke is a leading cause of death and a leading

cause of acquried disability in adults; Stroke is a leading health expense; Stroke burden will increase with an increasing life

expectancy and insufficient control of major RFs; Stroke is used as a marker for NCD occurrence; Stroke is clinically defined! Comparisons between and within populations are

possible if using standard protocols

Test 1

Definitions (1-4 : 1-7)

The 3 potential steps* in STEPS Stroke (1-10:1-11)

Patients at home

Patients who die

Hospital patients

Population register to measure incidence, requires all 3 case finding steps + a well defined geographic population

* According to ability to identify cases and relate them to a defined population

+

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Planning and Preparing a Stroke Surveillance Study

(Section 3 + 7b) What is the goal? Identification of health facilities/GPs/other

health authorities? Numerator? Core, expanded, optional? Translation of STEPS Stroke instrument?

Preparing the Stroke Surveillance Site

(Section 4) How many cases are expected per year? How many health facilities are included? How much staff and how trained? How/who enter data into what soft-ware? Where are the staff located? Sickness/pregnancy/other? Hot/Cold/Mixed pursuit? Test run!