Popular knowledge of stroke in São Paulo: a cross-sectional study within the World Stroke Campaign

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Brazil and the main cause of disability. Inability to identify alarm signals causes delays in seeking emergency services, thereby leading to a worse prognosis. OBJECTIVES: To assess the population's knowledge of how to recognize and prevent stroke. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cross-sectional study on data derived from a questionnaire that was administered during the 2016 World Stroke Campaign, launched in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Data on 806 interviewees were evaluated using descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Among all the interviewees, 52.1% knew how to conceptualize stroke; 70.07% knew someone who had suffered a stroke; and 29.03% listed three or more risk factors. Only 27.5% mentioned controlling high blood pressure as a preventive measure. In the event of witnessing a stroke, 57.8% would call the emergency service and 2.9% would check the timing. Less educated individuals were 5.6 times more likely (95% confidence interval, CI 3.45-9.02) to have poor knowledge of stroke, compared with the more educated group. Knowing someone who had had a stroke reduced the chances of not knowing the terms relating to the disease (odds ratio, OR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.4-0.78). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the severity and prevalence of stroke, the population still has little information on this disease. In this context, the importance of mounting campaigns to improve prevention and treatment and to contribute to healthcare policies becomes evident.

【研究背景】脑卒中（Stroke）是巴西的第二大死亡原因，亦是致残的首要病因。无法识别脑卒中预警信号会导致急诊就医延迟，进而恶化患者预后。
【研究目的】评估人群对脑卒中识别与预防相关知识的掌握程度。
【研究设计与研究场景】本研究为前瞻性横断面研究，数据来源于2016年在巴西圣保罗市（São Paulo）启动的世界脑卒中宣传活动（World Stroke Campaign）中使用的调查问卷。
【研究方法】本研究纳入806名受访者的数据，采用描述性统计、单因素及多因素分析方法进行评估。
【研究结果】在全部受访者中，52.1%的人群能够正确理解脑卒中的概念；70.07%的人群认识曾罹患脑卒中的个体；29.03%的人群可列出3项及以上脑卒中危险因素。仅有27.5%的人群提及将控制高血压作为脑卒中的预防措施。当目睹他人发生脑卒中时，57.8%的受访者会拨打急诊服务电话，仅2.9%的受访者会核对发作时间。与受教育程度较高的人群相比，受教育程度较低者对脑卒中知识掌握不佳的风险为其5.6倍（95%置信区间CI：3.45~9.02）。认识脑卒中患者会降低对该病相关术语一无所知的概率（比值比OR=0.56；95%置信区间CI：0.4~0.78）。
【研究结论】尽管脑卒中具有高严重性与高患病率，但大众对该病的相关知识仍较为匮乏。在此背景下，开展旨在提升脑卒中预防与救治水平、助力完善医疗保健政策的宣传活动的重要性愈发凸显。