[Changes in stroke mortality rates during the years 1977 and 1985]

The mortality from stroke in the years 1977 and 1985 was compared in the Province of Poznań. The mortality from strokes decreased in that time period considerably in the population of males and females. The differences were significant from the age group 40-49 years. Reduced mortality from stroke in the Province of Poznań contrasted with a reverse trend in the mortality from ischaemic heart disease, which has been increasing continuously. It may be supposed that increasing effectiveness in the treatment of arterial hypertension may explain, in part at least, reduction of the mortality index from strokes. One cannot exclude, however, taht partial elimination of other risk factor due to changed way of life, changed dietary habits, may play also a considerable role in the positive trends in the epidemiology of strokes.