František Cibulčík
Acute stroke is associated with the main causes of mortality and morbidity on worldwide scale. Epidemiological aspects – subsequent recurrence of stroke, overlap between the subgroups within the various symptomatic locations of atherothrombosis and regional differences in prevalence of stroke – will be discussed. Newly published data show high rates for stroke for patients from Eastern Europe. The data also confirm that for patients with previous stroke, the risk of recurrent stroke exceeds the risk of other atherothrombotic events. Multiple disease location increased the 1-year risk of all cardiovascular events. These facts should have important implications for designing large –scale preventive intervention trials for specific subgroups of patients.