Epidemiology of acute cerebrovascular disease before the age of 55 in the Stockholm County 1973-77: I. Incidence and mortality rates.

The incidence and mortality rates of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) before age 55 were estimated for the Stockholm county between 1973 and 1977 using community based diagnosis and death statistics registers. Annual validation procedures concluded that less than 5% of hospitalized patients may have escaped registration. During the study period a diagnosis of CVD (initial stroke or TIA) was reported in 2,103 individuals, giving annual average crude incidence rates for stroke and TIA of 34 and 4 respectively per 100,000 inhabitants under age 55. Hemorrhagic lesions were reported in 45.4% of the cases, ischemic lesions in 33.1% and unclassified lesions in 21.5%. For all diagnostic categories a strong correlation to age is found, and for most categories the male:female ratio is high. The mortality rates are high for hemorrhagic lesions and low for ischemic and unclassified lesions. Incidence rates are higher than in Uppsala and Gothenburg, Sweden, but lower than in North Karelia, Finland. Mortality rates are similar to those reported by most other investigators.