[Trends in poststroke survival]

To analyse trends in survival of 25-64-year-old poststroke patients living in Kaunas in 1986-1996.

The study covered all 25-64-year-old citizens of Kaunas affected by the first stroke. All the patients were divided into three groups: those who had stroke in 1986-1989; in 1990-1993; in 1994-1996. All the patients were followed up to December 31, 1997. The survival was analysed by Kaplan-Meier method, probability to survive after stroke was analysed using the method of logistic regression.

The data is available for 2864 patients (58.6% males and 41.4% females). Probability to die during the first poststroke year for males in 1994-1996 was by 30% less (p = 0.02) and in females by 27% less (p = 0.1) than in males and females affected by stroke in 1986-1989. Comparison of males and females affected by the first stroke who survived 28 days for 1986-1989 vs 1994-1996 showed that probability of death in the first year was 0.62 (95% CI being 0.37-1.08; p = 0.2) and 0.69 (95% CI 0.31-1.52; p = 0.07), respectively. The same trends were found for 2, 3 and 4 years. In 1986-1989 four-year survival for men was 71.9%, in 1994-1996--81.7% (p = 0.02). In women--83.6 and 86.3% (p = 0.05), respectively. Of men with stroke in 1986-1989 and alive for 28 days, 4-year survival was 71.3%, of those with stroke in 1994-1996--80.6% (p = 0.02). Relevant survival in women was 83.5 and 87.5% (p > 0.05), respectively.

Short- and long-term survival after the first stroke in 25-64-year-old Kaunas citizens improved.