Stroke Incidence and 30-Day Case-Fatality Rates in Novosibirsk, Russia, 1982 Through 1992

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study was conducted to investigate the incidence of stroke and 30-day case-fatality rates for stroke in a defined Russian population. METHODS: This is a population-based study that was established in 1982. All residents of an administratively defined and typical district of Novosibirsk (approximately 150,000 subjects) who had an incident (first-ever) stroke from January 1, 1982, through December 31, 1992, were registered. RESULTS: During an 11-year study period, 3406 incident stroke patients were registered, for an overall crude average annual incidence rate of 202/100,000 population. The rates were higher with increasing age and were significantly higher for men than for women. The age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence rate of stroke declined from 271/100,000 in 1982 to 232/100,000 in 1992. Slowing of the decline in stroke incidence was observed after 1988, and stroke incidence increased slightly in 1992. No significant differences in 30-day stroke case-fatality rates were noted from 1982 through 1992, but a slight trend toward decreasing rates was observed after 1988. There was no major change in patient age at stroke onset. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke incidence rates in Novosibirsk are among the highest in the world. We observed a decline in stroke incidence but little change in 30-day case-fatality rates in Novosibirsk from 1982 through 1992.