The incidence of stroke in the Kuopio area of East Finland.

During a 20-month study period there were 373 strokes in a geographically defined population (235/100,000/year). When age and sex were adjusted to the mean population of Finland in 1979, the annual incidence of stroke was 270/100,000 persons. The distribution of incident cases by diagnostic category was as follows: cerebral infarction 80%, ICH 9%, SAH 8% and NOS 3%. Case fatality of stroke within one year was 37%. The recurrence rate was 6% during the first year after any stroke.