[Epidemiology and risk factors of cerebral arterial accidents]

In France, available epidemiologic data (mortality statistics, Paris prospective study)--although still insufficient--indicate: 1) that arterial strokes account for about 13 per cent of all deaths, and 2) that their annual incidence in men aged 40 to 60 is around 0.6 per thousand and increases sharply thereafter. These results are comparable to those of other industrialized countries, with the exception of Japan where the actual incidence of arterial strokes seems to be higher. Age and high blood pressure are the major risk factors and causes of the various types of ischaemic and haemorrhagic arterial strokes. Several studies suggest that the treatment of hypertension significantly decreases the incidence of arterial strokes.