Burden of Cerebrovascular Diseases (Stroke) in Serbia
The purpose of the study was to provide a comprehensive review of the most important features regarding burden of cerebrovascular disease (i.e., stroke) in Serbia.
In Serbia, stroke is the leading cause of mortality in females (20.8% of all deaths) and the second cause in males (15.5%). The crude mortality rate from stroke in Serbia in 2000 was 248.8/100,000, and age-adjusted rate 122.6/100,000 (using Segi’s world standard population), while in the Belgrade population (period of observation: 1989–2003), the average standardized mortality rates (using Segi’s world standard population) for all stroke subtypes were 90.8/100,000 overall, 98.0/100,000 for men and 82.4/100,000 for women. The average standardized stroke mortality rates in Belgrade changed in the period 1989–2003 for both genders, the highest values being registered in the period 1994–1998 and the lowest in the period 1989–1993.
The burden of cerebrovascular disease in Serbia without Kosovo and Metohia in 2000, expressed in terms of as DALY was 65,795 in men and 70,295 in women (136,090 DALY for the total population). Stroke is the second leading cause of DALY for males, after IHD, and the leading cause for females. In Serbia 2000, YLL rates per 1,000 for stroke were lower in males (15.6/1,000) than in females (16.7/1,000). Moreover, in males stroke was the second leading single cause of premature YLL (13% of total YLL), while in females it ranked first (18% of total YLL). Rates of YLD per 1,000 were 2.3 for males and 1.4 for females. Hypertension as one of the most important risk factors for stroke was responsible for 13.3% of the total YLL in Serbia 2,000 in females and 9.7% in males. The proportion of total DALY calculated for stroke due to hypertension was higher for females (48.65%) than for males (40.51%).
In conclusion, the important findings obtained in the SBDS should be used as a guide for implementing preventive strategies, as well as for evaluating the scope of future gains obtained by reducing exposure to known risk factors for cerebrovascular disease.
KeywordsIschemic Stroke Physical Inactivity Stroke Subtype Stroke Incidence High Blood Cholesterol
List of Abbreviations:
disability adjusted life years
International Classification of Diseases
ischemic heart disease
Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease
Serbian Burden of Disease Study
years lived with disability
years of life lost
World Health Organization
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