EPIDEMIOLOGY OF STROKE IN THE NETHERLANDS FROM 1972 TO 1994 - THE ENDOF THE DECLINE IN STROKE MORTALITY

In 1994, stroke was responsible for the death of 4,994 men and 7,601 w omen in the Netherlands, corresponding to 7.5 % of all deaths in men a nd 11.4% in women. Age-adjusted stroke mortality declined by 39% for m en and by 45% for women between 1972 and 1994. However, the decline in mortality levelled off after 1987. In contrast to mortality, age-adju sted discharge rates increased by 47% for men and by 28% for women dur ing the study period. The decline in mortality was equally distributed over the age groups, while the increase in the number of hospital adm issions was more pronounced in the older age groups. The analyses by d iagnostic subgroups of stroke showed the importance of increasing diag nostic capabilities in the hospital setting. The use of diagnostic sub groups in national mortality data was of limited value, illustrated by the fact that 70% of all stroke deaths in 1994 belonged to the ill-de fined type of stroke.