[Prevalence and distribution of stroke and transient ischemic insults: secondary data analysis of a representative sample of insured members of the General Local Insurance Dortmund].

Apoplexia is not only one of the leading causes of death, but also a major contributor to disability in the aged. Population based prevalence rates, though being of basic importance for describing and planning health care structures, are sparse in the Federal Republic of Germany. We estimated the prevalence of apoplexia and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Data were gathered from a 5% representative random sample of insured of the local statuatory health insurance (AOK) in Dortmund, Germany (n = 7447). Cases were identified by the diagnosis on medical certificates, being further validated internally by other patient data. The rough prevalence rate was 0.86% (m 0.79%, f 0.93%) for apoplexia and 0.6% (m 0.4%, f 0.78%) for TIA. Adjusted for age and sex to the whole population of the FRG (excluding the former German Democratic Republic) the prevalence rate was 0.75% (m 0.8%, f 0.7%) for apoplexia and 0.52% (m 0.41%, f 0.63%) for TIA. 65% of the insured with apoplexia were 70 years and older; their average age was 71.7 years. The average age of the insured with TIA was 65.4 years. Prevalence rates for apoplexia increased continuously by age and were higher for men than for women in all age groups. Prevalence rates for TIA also increased with age, but under men only to the age of 70; after that-simultaneous to a steep rise of apoplexia prevalence-no more TIAs were noticed.