Stroke, 1992-2001.

Cerebrovascular accidents, or strokes, are currently the third leading cause of death in the United States. Also a leading cause of disability, they represent an enormous burden on health care costs. This report presents trends in stroke hospitalizations, readmissions, and mortality from 1992 through 2001 among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries across various demographic groups. The report presents outcomes for four stroke-related cohorts: stroke only, stroke/transient ischemic attack, atrial fibrillation, and carotid endarterectomy.