High completeness of the brest stroke registry evidenced by analysis of sources and capture-recapture method.
Population-based stroke registries are necessary to evaluate the precise burden of stroke. The methodology used in the Brest Stroke Registry and an estimation of its completeness are described. 'Hot pursuit' as well as 'cold pursuit' were used, and five sources of identification were included: emergency wards, brain imaging, practitioners, death certificates and hospital-based electronic research. Ascertainment for each case was certified by a neurologist. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age >15 years; (2) a stroke defined by WHO criteria or all neurological deficits lasting at least 1 h. Completeness was estimated using capture-recapture method. For 2008, 2009 and 2010, 851, 898, 823 patients were collected, respectively. The number of sources of identification per patient was as follows: one source: 30.8, 24.1 and 18.7%; two sources: 54.5, 42.9 and 31.0%; three sources: 13.4, 30.1 and 46%; four sources: 1.3, 3.0 and 3.8%. Capture-recapture analysis showed data completeness over 90%. Standardized cumulative first-ever stroke incidence using a world standard population was 87 in 2008, 87 in 2009 and 84 in 2010. Case ascertainment by a neurologist, numerous sources, as well as 'hot' and 'cold' pursuit can provide a reliably large data set suitable for further epidemiological studies.