Stroke attack rates and case fatality in the Krakow Stroke Registry.

Background and Purpose: Previous epidemiological studies of stroke in Poland completed more than 10 years ago reported moderate incidence rates but very high case fatality rates due to stroke. We used the data of the Krakow Stroke Registry to calculate the attack rates as well as short- and long-term case fatality rates from stroke in hospitalized inhabitants of Krakow, Poland.
Material and Methods: We prospectively recorded all cases of stroke (defined according to the ICD-10) in adult permanent residents of Krakow, who were admitted to hospitals in that city. The registration took one year (between 1 July 1999 and 30 June 2000). The vital status of participants was established on days 30, 90 and 180 and at one year after their stroke.
Results: 1096 strokes occurred in a population of 589,820. Attack rate standardized for the European population was 180.0 per 100,000 (218.3 in men and 151.9 in women). Ischaemic stroke was diagnosed in 532 (48.6%), stroke not specified as haemorrhagic or ischaemic in 406 subjects (37.0%), intracerebral haemorrhage in 86 (7.8%), and subarachnoid haemorrhage in 72 (6.6%). The 30-day, 90-day, 180-day and one-year case fatality rates for all strokes were 17.8%, 28.1%, 30.8% and 39.7%, respectively. Case fatality rates for ischaemic stroke were 9.8%, 19.0%, 21.6% and 31.2%, respectively and for intracerebral haemorrhage 44.2%, 55.8%, 55.8% and 60.5%, respectively.
Conclusions: The attack rates of stroke in urban areas of Poland are similar to the average European rates. Short- and long-term case fatality rates are much lower than previously reported.