[Stroke incidence, case fatality and mortality--current trends and future prognosis]

In Europe, since the 40's of the previous century the tendency of decreasing number of stroke cases has been observed. In Poland, epidemiological data concerning the stroke have shown relatively stable index of stroke incidence and stroke mortality rates in the last few decades. The decline concerns mostly early poststroke mortality which results directly in the increase of the number of people who have recovered from stroke. However, the index of post-stroke mortality is still higher in Poland than in other European countries and the USA. The prognosis referring to the incidence in next years, caused by demographic alterations related to the increasing number of elderly people, is not optimistic. Significant increase of population at the age of 65 and more is going to contribute to the increase of the number of new stroke cases in Poland and other European countries. This fact becomes a challenge both for hospitals, care-giver agencies and patients' families.