Population group differences in trends in stroke mortality in Israel

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of death in Israel, accounting for a significant mortality burden.
• In 1997, stroke caused 2905 deaths, representing 8.1% of all fatalities in Israel.
• Understanding stroke mortality trends across different population groups is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in stroke mortality in Israel from 1969 to 1997.
• To compare stroke mortality rates between major population groups (Jews and Arabs).
• To estimate stroke morbidity and hospitalization rates in Israel.

Main Methods:

• Utilized national mortality data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (1969-1997).
• Calculated age-specific and age-adjusted mortality rates for Jewish and Arab populations.
• Employed data from the 1996/1997 National Health Survey for morbidity estimates and national hospitalization data for hospitalization rates.

Main Results:

• A consistent decrease in stroke mortality was observed in the Jewish population for both sexes between 1969 and 1997.
• Age-adjusted mortality rates declined significantly: 62.5% for Jewish men and 73.4% for Jewish women.
• While Arab populations showed a general decreasing trend, the group aged 75 years and older exhibited a statistically significant decline only among Jews, not Arabs. An estimated 13,000 hospitalizations due to stroke occurred in 1997.

Conclusions:

• Age-adjusted stroke mortality in Israel has substantially decreased over the past 25 years.
• The decline in stroke mortality has been significantly more pronounced among the Jewish population compared to the Arab population.
• Disparities in stroke mortality trends, especially in the elderly (>/=75 years), suggest potential differences in risk factor distribution and case fatality rates between the two groups.