[Cerebral apoplexy. Incidence and duration of hospitalization]

The incidence rates of hospitalization for acute stroke (subarachnoid haemorrhage not included) in three municipalities in Copenhagen County, Denmark, were assessed in order to provide a basis for estimating the current need for hospital care and rehabilitation. The crude annual incidence rate was 2.61 per 1,000 population. Adjusted for age and sex by direct standardization to the Danish population, the annual incidence rate was 1.88 per 1,000 population. If hospitalizations, caused by sequelae from former strokes are included, the crude and adjusted rates were 3.00 and 2.16, respectively. The average time spent in hospital was 33.7 days (median: 20 days). If these figures are extended to the entire Danish population of over 5 million, 1,000 hospital beds are estimated to be occupied by stroke patients at any given time.