The impact of hypertension and diabetes on stroke hospitalization

The southeastern United States has been recognized for over 50 years as the region with the highest stroke mortality, and South Carolina, with the highest cerebrovascular disease rates, has the unfortunate distinction as the buckle of the stroke belt. While the reasons for the geographic disparity remain unclear. Hypertension and diabetes emerge as leading possibilities, since these conditions and related complications tend to be more frequent and severe in the Southeast. Hospital admissions for stroke were assessed from 1991 – 2000 in South Carolina to estimate the impact of hypertension and diabetes on the trends in stroke rates. Secondary diagnoses of hypertension and diabetes were analyzed with stratification by age groups < 50 and >= 50 years.