title: [Stroke mortality in Poland--role of observational studies based on computer databases].
abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide and remains one of the major public health problems. Most European countries have experienced declines in stroke mortality in contrast to central and eastern European countries including Poland. The World Health Organization Data Bank is an invaluable source of information especially for mortality trends. Stroke mortality in Poland and some problems with accuracy of ICD coding for the identification of patients with acute stroke are discussed. Computerized databases are increasingly being used to identify patients with acute stroke for epidemiological, quality of care, and cost studies. More accurate methods of collecting and analysis of the data should be implemented to gain more information from these bases.
authors.affiliation: Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, Oddział w Katowicach.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazurek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015982:Bias; D002423:Cause of Death; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality*