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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
[Development of mortality and morbidity of vascular diseases: variations between coronary heart disease and stroke]
P U Heuschmann1, H K Neuhauser, M Endres
1Centrum für Schlaganfallforschung Berlin (CSB), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Deutschland. peter.heuschmann@charite.de
Insights
Cardiovascular disease mortality in Germany has declined significantly, contributing to increased life expectancy. Continued monitoring of risk factors and treatment is crucial for future prevention and public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Cardiology
Context:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems globally and in Germany.
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke are leading causes of death and disability.
- Life expectancy in Germany has risen due to decreased CVD mortality.
Purpose:
- To compare the current development of mortality and morbidity of CHD and stroke in Germany.
- To analyze trends in cardiovascular disease burden.
- To inform future public health interventions.
Summary:
- Mortality from CHD and stroke has decreased substantially in Germany between 1998 and 2008.
- CHD mortality declined from 178,759 to 134,648 deaths, and stroke mortality from 90,241 to 63,060 deaths.
- While CHD mortality reduction is attributed to treatment and risk factor changes, comparable stroke data is lacking.
Impact:
- The findings highlight the success of interventions in reducing cardiovascular disease burden.
- Continuous documentation of CVD determinants and risk factors is essential for effective public health measures.
- Further research is needed to understand stroke-specific trends and optimize prevention and treatment strategies.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular diseases represent a central challenge for our health care system because of their individual and societal consequences. The manuscript compares the current development of mortality and morbidity of coronary heart disease and stroke in Germany.
Results:
Coronary heart diseases are one of the leading causes of death and one of the major causes for adult disability. In Germany the average life expectancy has increased by more then 2 years per decade within recent years. The greatest contribution to the increase in life expectancy between 1980 and 2002 in Germany was attributed in previous studies to the decline in mortality rates of cardiovascular diseases; for example in Germany 134,648 persons died in 2008 from coronary heart disease (ICD-10 I20-I25) and 63,060 persons from stroke (ICD-10 I60-I64) compared to 178,759 persons and 90,241 persons in 1998, respectively. Statistical models from other countries estimated that the decrease in coronary heart disease mortality is attributed by about 40% to better treatment and by about 60% to changes in risk factors in the population. Comparable data for stroke are lacking.
Conclusion:
Despite the substantial knowledge on cardiovascular diseases in Germany a continuous and timely documentation of their determinants, time trends of risk factors and impact regarding mortality and morbidity is compulsory to assess the effectiveness of initiated population health measures and to identify future options for improving prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Germany.
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