INCIDENCE AND PROGNOSIS OF STROKE IN THE POPULATION OF EAST-GERMANY -FINDINGS OF STROKE REGISTERS IN THE PERIOD 1985-1988

Objectives: To determine the incidence rate of stroke, case-fatality w ithin 28 days and diagnostic accuracy in stroke cases in the study pop ulation. Methods: Prospektive stroke register, including all cases of complete stroke which occurred during 1985-1988 in the population aged 25-64 and 25-74, of 14 districts in East Germany. Case-respectively f inding, validation and uniform data collection were carried out by phy sicians trained to use the WHO-MONICA protocol. Results: Annual age-st andardized event rates were 113 per 100000 for men and 68/1 00 000 for women aged 25-64, rates for first-ever stroke were 88/100000 for men and 52/100000 for women. For both sexes, incidence and event rates ros e exponentially with increasing age. Before age 45 more women than men were affected. 34 % of patients aged 25-64 had died by 28 days. Case- fatality in men and women aged 65-74 was higher than in those ten year s younger (p < 0.01) and tended to be higher in women. 10 % of patient s aged 25-64 and 26 % of those in the age of 65-74 were treated outsid e hospital. Before age 65, CT examination and angiography were done in only 18 and 20 %, respectively; in elderly patients even less frequen tly. Conclusions: The findings suggest that since the 1970s there may have been an increase of stroke incidence in the population of Eastern Germany. The high case-fatality following stroke is confirmed. Eviden tly there are deficiencies in the medical care of elderly stroke patie nts.