Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Canadian Medical Association Journal logoLink to Canadian Medical Association Journal
. 1966 Nov 12;95(20):1004–1011.

The Epidemiology of Cerebral Vascular Disease in Canada

An Analysis of Mortality Data

Peter C Gordon
PMCID: PMC1935779  PMID: 5924946

Abstract

Mortality data for cerebral vascular disease in Canada and its provinces were analysed as an initial approach to the understanding of the epidemiology of this disease. Since 1950, there has been a decline in mortality attributed to vascular lesions of the central nervous system. This decline has been more pronounced in females. Five-year average age-sex-specific rates (1960-64) showed an almost constant proportional increase with age. The highest mortality rates tended to occur in the Eastern Provinces.

From 1950 to 1964 there was a 21% decline in mortality due to intracranial hemorrhage and a concomitant 53% decline in mortality attributed to hypertensive disease. Over the same period there was a 24% increase in mortality attributed to cerebral embolism and thrombosis, and an 8% increase in mortality due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. Areal correlations offered only inconsistent support for the hypothesis that these associated trends are due to common etiologic determinants.

Evidence presently available does little to clarify to what extent these trends and differences can be attributed to coding, certification and diagnostic practices, and to what extent to changing and differing incidence and prognosis.

Full text

PDF
1004

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AURELL M., HOOD B. CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE IN A POPULATION AFTER A DECADE OF ACTIVE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT. Acta Med Scand. 1964 Sep;176:377–383. doi: 10.1111/j.0954-6820.1964.tb00944.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BERKSON D. M., STAMLER J. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FINDINGS ON CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS. J Atheroscler Res. 1965 Mar-Apr;5(2):189–202. doi: 10.1016/s0368-1319(65)80061-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chapman J. M., Reeder L. G., Borun E. R., Clark V. A., Coulson A. H. Epidemiology of vascular lesions affecting the central nervous system: the occurrence of strokes in a sample population under observation for cardiovascular disease. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1966 Feb;56(2):191–201. doi: 10.2105/ajph.56.2.191. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DUSTAN H. P., SCHNECKLOTH R. E., CORCORAN A. C., PAGE I. H. The effectiveness of long-term treatment of malignant hypertension. Circulation. 1958 Oct;18(4 Pt 1):644–651. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.18.4.644. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gifford R. W., Jr Hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Effect of antipressor therapy on the course and prognosis. Am J Cardiol. 1966 May;17(5):656–662. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(66)90403-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. HAMILTON M., THOMPSON E. M., WISNIEWSKI T. K. THE ROLE OF BLOOD-PRESSURE CONTROL IN PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS OF HYPERTENSION. Lancet. 1964 Feb 1;1(7327):235–238. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)92344-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. HARINGTON M., KINCAID-SMITH P., McMICHAEL J. Results of treatment in malignant hypertension: a seven-year experience in 94 cases. Br Med J. 1959 Nov 14;2(5158):969–980. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5158.969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HOWARD J. RACE DIFFERENCES IN HYPERTENSION MORTALITY TRENDS. DIFFERENTIAL DRUG EXPOSURE AS A THEORY. Milbank Mem Fund Q. 1965 Apr;43:202–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. KINSEY D., SISE H. S., WHITELAW G. P. Changes in mortality rates of treated hypertensive patients in a decade. Geriatrics. 1961 Aug;16:397–406. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. LEISHMAN A. W. Merits of reducing high blood-pressure. Lancet. 1963 Jun 15;1(7294):1284–1288. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)91983-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. MOHLER E. R., FREIS E. D. Five-year survival of patients with malignant hypertension treated with antihypertensive agents. Am Heart J. 1960 Sep;60:329–335. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(60)90190-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Rueger D. E. Hypertensive and chronic respiratory disease mortality: confirmation of trends by multiple cause of death data. Public Health Rep. 1966 Feb;81(2):197–198. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. SMIRK H., HODGE J. V. CAUSES OF DEATH IN TREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS: BASED ON 82 DEATHS DURING 1959-61 AMONG AN AVERAGE HYPERTENSIVE POPULATION AT RISK OF 518 PERSONS. Br Med J. 1963 Nov 16;2(5367):1221–1225. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5367.1221. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Stallones R. A. Epidemiology of cerebrovascular disease. A review. J Chronic Dis. 1965 Aug;18(8):859–872. doi: 10.1016/0021-9681(65)90022-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. YATES P. O. A CHANGE IN THE PATTERN OF CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE. Lancet. 1964 Jan 11;1(7324):65–69. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(64)91389-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Canadian Medical Association Journal are provided here courtesy of Canadian Medical Association

RESOURCES