INCIDENCE OF STROKE AND MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE

Background and Propose information on the incidence of vascular diseas e in women of reproductive age has been limited. These diseases are ra re in this age group. and a large population base is required for reli able estimation of incidence. Methods For a case-control study of vasc ular disease and low-dose oral contraceptive use, we used emergency de partment logs and hospital admission and discharge records to ascertai n fatal and nonfatal cases of first-ever stroke and myocardial infarct ion (MI) in women 15 to 44 years or age who were members of a large Ca lifornia HMO. incidence rates of stroke and MI were calculated on the basis of these data. Results The incidence of MI not associated with p regnancy was 5.0 per 100 000 women-years, The incidence of stroke not associated with pregnancy was 10.7 per 100 000 women-years. MI was ver y ran until age 35 years, At every age, about half of hemorrhagic stro kes were due to subarachnoid hemorrhage. Conclusions The incidence rat es of stroke and MI are low in women of reproductive age in the United States.