Incidence, risk, and case fatality of first ever stroke in the elderly population. The Rotterdam Study

Objective: To estimate the incidence, survival, and lifetime risk of stroke in the elderly population. Methods: The authors conducted a study in 7721 participants from the population based Rotterdam Study who were free from stroke ot baseline (1990-1993) ond were followed up for stroke until 1 January 1999. Age and sex specific incidence, case fatolity rates, ond lifetime risks of stroke were colculated. Results: Meon follow up wos 6.0 years ond 432 strokes occurred. The incidence rate of stroke per 1000 person years increased with oge and ranged from 1.7 (95% Cl 0.4 to 6.6) in men aged 55 to 59 years to 69.8 (95% Cl 22.5 to 216.6) in men aged 95 years or over. Corresponding figures for women were 1.2 (95% Cl 0.3 to 4.7) and 33.1 (95% Cl 17.8 to 61.6). Men and women hod similar absolute lifetime risks of stroke (21% for those aged 55 yeors). The survival ofter stroke did not differ according to sex. Conclusions: Stroke incidence increases with age, olso in the very old. Although the incidence rote is higher in men than in women over the entire age range, the lifetime risks were similar for both sexes.

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