Background: Stroke now ranks as the second cause of death and the most common life threatening neurological disease. The best approach to reducing the burden of stroke remains prevention. Objectives: to determine the distribution of stroke in Upper Egypt by type, stroke risk factors , and to compare the results of the study with other national & international studies. Methods: prospective hospital-based study carried out in Neurology department of Sohag University hospital, involved 467 stroke patients.  patients were subjected to history taking, examination and investigation. Demographic data, stroke-subtypes, stroke-prone individual,  risk factors, and stroke outcome, were analyzed and compared with other multi-center, national and international studies. Results: hemorrhagic strokes reported in37.5%. 56.3% were above 60 years and 8.6% were below 40 years. 62% of stroke occurred in autumn-winter. Hemorrhagic stroke was higher in spring-summer. (53%). Stroke  reported more in rural areas 57% .Non educated stroke patients were the commonest 67.5%, hypertension  reported in 42% of patients, more in males 59%, especially in those>40years(97.4%),  smoking in 37.7%, ischemic heart diseases in 32.8%, dyslipidaemia in 29.5%, history of TIA in 23.1% of, Diabetes in 21.6% of,  Past history of similar stroke in 10.5%, obesity in 10.1%, Positive family history of stroke in 9.6%, atrial fibrillation in 6%, 60%. Rheumatic heart diseases reported in 5.6% of patients. Alcohol abuse reported in only 1.3% 66%. Conclusion:  In Upper Egypt, we reported a higher incidence of Hemorrhagic stroke .Lower incidences of, hypertension, D.M., hyperlipidemia, previous attacks and alcohol consumption compared with other studies,  higher rates of Rh.H.D. were reported compared with other international studies.

(Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2005, 42(1): 255-269).