Declining incidence and mortality of stroke in persons aged ≥ 75 years in Finland;: the FINSTROKE study

Background The average life expectancy of a person aged 75 in Finland is approximately 10 years. A substantial threat to the quality of life during these years is stroke, which is common among the elderly, may hamper independent living and places a substantial burden on health care resources. The aim of the present study was to analyse the trends in incidence, mortality and prognosis of acute stroke events in persons aged; 75 years in Finland. Design A population-based stroke register study. Methods The FINSTROKE register recorded all stroke events in persons aged greater than or equal to 75 years (n=5493) among inhabitants of the town of Turku from 1982 to 1992 and again from 1996 to 1998, and in the Kuopio area from 1990 to 1997. Results At the end of the study period, the age group : 75 years constituted 3.8% of the population of study areas among men and 8.7% among women. This population segment contributed 35% of strokes among men and 66% among women. Of all strokes in this age group, 73% occurred among women. Data suggested that the mortality and incidence of acute stroke events were declining, but the 28-day case fatality did not change. At day 28 after the onset of stroke, only 26% of men and 19% of women had recovered well enough to be capable of independent living. Conclusions Stroke mortality among the elderly is declining in Finland, which is mainly due to the decline in the incidence of stroke events. (C) 2004 The European Society of Cardiology.