Introduction: Stroke mortality has declined in recent decades, but there appears to be a slowdown in the decline in recent years. We analyze the trends in stroke mortality in La Rioja (Spain) for the period 1999-2022.
Methods: We evaluated stroke mortality using statistical data from the mortality registry of La Rioja (Spain). We adjusted the rates by age and sex and analyzed both overall strokes and subtypes: hemorrhagic and ischemic. To analyze the trend in mortality rates we constructed joinpoint regression models, with associated annual percentage change (APC) RESULTS: Age-standardized stroke mortality declined between 1999 and 2022: females from 98.0 to 29.2 per 100 000; males, from 131.6 to 44.8 per 100 000. We found a decrease in overall stroke mortality in all age groups, except those under 65 years old. Ischemic stroke mortality showed declines in the first decade (APC: 7.3%, CI95%: 4.1-19.1%) and increases in the second decade (APC: 1.6%, CI95%: -1.6-11.7%) among men. In women, the rates declined between 2018 and 2022(APC: -6.6%, CI95%: -5.1-30.6%) after an increase between 2015 and 2017 (APC: 23.5%, CI95%: -20.2-38.3%). For hemorrhagic stroke, we found a consistent rate of decline throughout the entire time period in men (APC: 2.4%, CI95%: 0.9 a 4.0%). In women, rates increased during the period 1999-2009(APC: 1.9%, CI95%: -2.1-22.8%) and decreased 2010-2022 (APC: 6.5%, CI95%: 4.0-25.6%).
Conclusions: Stroke mortality rates have decreased, more so for haemorrhagic than ischaemic strokes.
Keywords: Hemorrhagic stroke; Ischemic stroke; Joinpoint regression analysis; Mortality; Stroke; Trends.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.