How Frequent Are Strokes?
Stroke is the third main cause of death after heart disease and cancer, and the first cause of severe disability. One third of fatal strokes occur before age 65 years. For all stroke types combined, the mortality varies from country to country between 20 and 250 per 100,000 per year. In the USA strokes are the cause of 150,000 deaths per annum. Between 1969 and 1987, stroke mortality has significantly decreased in some developed countries: 40% for men and 45% for women in the USA. This fall is related with the introduction of effective treatment of risk factors (lowering hypertension, lifestyle management), and with the improvement of diagnostic accuracy and better management of the acute phase of stroke. Data obtained from 25 countries allow to conclude that a decrease in mortality of 3-5%} per annum had occurred in western European countries between 1970 and 1985. The incidence of stroke is estimated to be about 150 per 100,000 population per year in industrial countries. It has also
