title: A population-based prospective 24-month study of stroke: incidence and 30-day case-fatality rates of first-ever strokes in Croatia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Central/Eastern European countries, cerebrovascular diseases are among the leading causes of mortality. We aimed to determine the incidence of first-ever stroke (FES) in the north-western part of Croatia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based prospective incidence study was conducted between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2009. Cases were sought from multiple overlapping sources. Incidence rates by stroke type and gender were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,487 events were recorded, 1,017 of which were FESs. European age-adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 population) were: total FESs 223.6 [women/men rate ratio (w/m RR) = 0.65 (95% CI 0.57-0.73)]; ischemic stroke 162.4 (w/m RR = 0.65, 0.56-0.76); intracerebral hemorrhage 28.4 (w/m RR = 0.44, 0.30-0.63); subarachnoid hemorrhage 7.2 (w/m RR = 1.18, 0.55-2.54); unknown etiology 25.5 (w/m RR = 0.78, 0.54-1.14). Adjusted incidence rates of ischemic strokes by subtype were: cardioembolic 52.9 (w/m RR = 0.77, 0.59-0.99); large-artery atherosclerosis 14.4 (w/m RR = 0.22, 0.13-0.38); small-artery occlusion 24.5 (w/m RR = 0.53, 0.37-0.77) and 'other or uncertain causes' 70.6 (w/m RR = 0.77, 0.62-0.97). Thirty-day case-fatality rate was 23.5% overall and 17.1% for ischemic stroke.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of FES and 30-day mortality of patients with ischemic strokes in the studied population is higher than in Western European countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Varaždin General Hospital, Varaždin, Croatia. spikija@gmail.com
authors.forename: Slaven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pikija
authors.forename: Danijel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cvetko
authors.forename: Branko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malojčić
authors.forename: Zlatko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Trkanjec
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pavliček
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukić
authors.forename: Andrina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kopjar
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajduk
authors.forename: Alen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrović
authors.forename: Melita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilić-Genter
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trkulja
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate