The best approach to reduce the burden of stroke remains prevention. The large majority of epidemiological data available focus only on western countries. A better knowledge of stroke patients characteristics in Middle East and African communities will help to promote tailored campaigns by health care authorities and medical societies.

to determine the characteristics of hospitalized stroke patients and case fatality in Upper Egypt governorates areas (Sohag, Quena, Aswan).

prospective hospital-based study carried out in the Neurology department of Sohag University hospital, involved 467 consecutive stroke patients. Demographic data, stroke-subtypes, risk factors, and stroke outcome, were analyzed. The study population was a consecutive series of patients admitted in the main tertiary health care level hospital of the area.

hemorrhagic strokes reported in 37.5% of cases. Fifty six % were above 60 years and 8.6% were juvenile events. Sixty two % of stroke occurred in autumn-winter. Hemorrhagic stroke was higher in spring-summer (53%). Hypertension was the more frequent risk factor reported in 42% of patients. In the study population smoking was present in 37.7%, ischemic heart diseases in 32.8%, dyslipidaemia in 29.5%, Diabetes (DM) in 21.6%, past history of stroke in 10.5%, obesity in 10.1%, positive family history for stroke in 9.6%, atrial fibrillation in 6%, Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in 5.6% of patients and alcohol abuse in 1.3%. The 1-month case fatality rate was 27.8%.

In Upper Egypt, we reported higher prevalences of hemorrhagic events, juvenile strokes and RHD compared with other studies.