TRENDS IN CASE-FATALITY OF STROKE IN FINLAND DURING 1983 TO 1992

Background and Purpose Stroke mortality has been declining in Finland during the past 20 years. It is not known, however, whether this favor able development is attributable to the decline in the incidence or ca se-fatality of stroke. For this reason we examined the trends in case- fatality of stroke, including trends by subtype of stroke. Methods The analyses were carried out using data of the community-based FINMONICA Stroke Register, which was operating in three geographic areas of Fin land during 1983 to 1992. All stroke events (n = 11 171) in persons ag ed 35 to 74 years were included in this register. Results The 28-day c ase-fatality of stroke fell yearly by 3.6% (P = .01) in men and by 2.6 % (P = .2) in women. At the end of the study period, the average 28-da y case-fatality of all strokes was 20% in men and 21% in women. Consid erable differences by subtype of stroke were observed. The 28-day case -fatalities at the end of the study period were in men-56% for subarac hnoid hemorrhage, 42% for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 14% for cerebr al infarction. In women, the corresponding figures were 49%, 49%, and 14%. The 28-day case-fatality of subarachnoid hemorrhage did not chang e during the study period, but for intracerebral hemorrhage, a signifi cant decline was observed in men and there was a declining trend also in women. The 28-day case-fatality of cerebral infarction declined sig nificantly in both genders. Conclusions With the exception of subarach noid hemorrhage, the 28-day case-fatality of stroke has fallen in Finl and. It is likely that this fall has contributed to the decline in str oke mortality.