Are Changes in Mortality From Stroke Caused by Changes in Stroke Event Rates or Case Fatality?

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.0000081224.15480.52
• Publication Date: 2003-07-15T00:21:20Z
• Authors: Cinzia Sarti; Birgitta Stegmayr; Hanna Tolonen; Markku Mähönen; Jaakko Tuomilehto; Kjell Asplund
• Keywords: Case fatality rate; Stroke

Background and Purpose— Mortality from stroke has been declining over recent decades in most countries, except Eastern Europe. In this analysis, based on the World Health Organization Monitoring Trends Determinants Cardiovascular Disease (WHO MONICA) Project, we explored to what extent these trends are due changes event rate case fatality. Methods— The WHO MONICA Project collected standardized data 14 populations 9 countries. All acute strokes occurring men women 35 64 years of age were included. Registration was carried out between 1982 1995, resulting time spans 7 13 years. rates fatality calculated as average annual percentage change. Results— Up 6-fold differences observed mortality. declined 8 10 women. An increase mortality with a trend, about two thirds change could be attributed decline increasing mortality, rise explained by an Conclusions— populations, whether or increasing, principally attributable rather than rates. Whether management disease severity cannot established basis results.