s u m m a r y Background: There are two major ethnic categories in Taiwan, i.e., the Han Chinese (98%) and the Taiwanese Aborigines (2%). The interethnic disparities in ischemic stroke etiological subtypes, conventional and behavioral vascular risk factors were unknown. Methods: From June 2007 to May 2009, a prospective stroke registry was conducted by a referral hospital in Taitung, Taiwan. Using the database, the interethnic disparities were examined by univariate analyses, followed by

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... riate analysis of the ischemic stroke subtype [by TOAST (Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification] with significant difference between the two ethnicities. Results: We included 433 acute ischemic stroke patients, comprising 302 Han Chinese (70%) and 131 Aborigines (30%). The Taiwanese Aborigines are more likely to be illiterate and living in rural areas (both p < 0.001); they are also more likely to have atrial fibrillation (p ¼ 0.018), and to engage in alcohol drinking (p ¼ 0.046) and areca nut chewing (p < 0.001), but less likely to have diabetes mellitus (p ¼ 0.022). Univariate analysis shows higher prevalence of cardioembolism among the Taiwanese Aborigines. However, ethnicity is not one of the independent variables of cardioembolism, which include atrial fibrillation [odds ratio (OR) ¼ 28.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 13.39e58.72)], hyperlipidemia (OR ¼ 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23e0.95), and areca nut chewing (OR ¼ 2.85; 95% CI, 1.21e6.72). Conclusion: Risk factors differ between the Han Chinese and the Taiwanese Aborigines, and areca nut chewing correlates with cardioembolic stroke. Future measures for stroke prevention should take these factors into consideration.