[Mortality trends in cerebrovascular diseases in Croatia]

The research comprised all deaths from cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in Croatia between 35 and 74 years of age over the period 1958-1987. The total number of deaths in that period increased by 40% and the number of deaths from CVD by 264%. At the same time, the rates standardized by age and sex increased by 62%. Proportional mortality rate from this disease increased from 7.1% in the year 1958 to 14.9% in 1987. The specific mortality rates over a 5-year period have shown a trend of increase in all male age groups and stagnation or decrease in females. A cohort data analysis shows a periodical and not cohort impact on mortality curve in the research period. The research shows that although mortality trends of CVD stagnated or even declined in some communities during the recent years, the secular trend for the entire country had a tendency of constant rise over the whole period of research. Therefore, the short-term prognosis predicts further increase of both the number and rate of deaths from CVD in our country.