Stroke in an isolated population. Incidence on the Faroes during 1962-1975.

In a retrospective study covering 14 years (1962-75), the annual incidence of stroke in the isolated population of the Faroes (approx. 40000 inhabitants) was 45.7 per 100000 in the age range 15-65 years. The type of stroke was subarachnoid haemorrhage in 34 cases, and other types of stroke were found in 111 cases. The incidence of stroke in this study was lower than in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the USA. There was no significant sex difference (males 43.0, females 48.3) (p greater than 0.05). It is pointed out that dietary habits on the Faroes differ from those in other Scandinavian countries.