Event, incidence and case fatality rates of cerebrovascular disease in Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract

Death rates for cerebrovascular disease (stroke) in New Zealand are declining. To investigate the reasons for this decline and to measure the impact of stroke on a defined population, a register of new episodes of stroke was kept in the Auckland region for the year ending March 1982. All cases were followed for one year, with in-depth interviews at onset, one month and six months and a telephone follow-up at one year to establish dead or alive status. A total of 703 episodes were registered for 680 patients, 331 men and 349 women. The crude event rate for all those over 15 years was 228 and 220 per 100,000 for men and women, respectively. Age-adjusted event rates for all strokes were 28% higher for men than women and the age-adjusted event rates for Maoris were 44% higher than for non-Maoris. The case fatality rates were 23.1% at one week, 33.5% at one month, 43.5% at six months and 48.5% at one year. In comparison with other studies, case fatality rates are similar but the incidence rates appear to be lower.