Background and purpose: Stroke incidence declined until the end of the 1970s in the United States, and the decline continued into the 1980s in Japan. The purpose of this study was to determine possible temporal changes of stroke incidence in a European community.
Methods: A prospective stroke registry was established in the community of Frederiksberg (population, approximately 90,000), Denmark, in the two periods 1972-1974 and 1989-1990. All patients suspected of stroke were clinically evaluated by a neurologist. Only patients with first-ever stroke were included. Complete case ascertainment was ensured by registration of both hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients. Death certificates were also scrutinized.
Results: A total of 927 patients with first-ever stroke was recorded. The annual stroke incidence rate per 1,000 increased by 18% from 2.6 in 1972-1974 to 3.1 in 1989-1990 (p < 0.01). This increase was due solely to a 42% increase in men, in whom stroke incidence rose from 2.1 to 3.0 (p < 0.0005). Incidence was unchanged in women at 3.0 and 3.1, respectively. The incidence rates from 1972-1974 were age and sex adjusted to the 1990 population. After adjustment to the Danish population, stroke incidence in Denmark was 2.0 for all, 2.3 for men, and 1.9 for women. In the second study period computed tomography or necropsy was performed in 85% of cases; 2.4/1,000 had cerebral infarction; 0.20/1,000 had intracerebral hemorrhage; and 0.02/1,000 had subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Conclusions: In a period when decline in stroke incidence has stopped in the United States and has continued in Japan, a marked increase of stroke incidence in Danish men was observed.