Stroke Incidence and Survival in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany: the Ludwigshafen Stroke Study (LuSSt).

Background And Purpose: Considerable locoregional differences in stroke incidence exist even within countries. Based on data from a statewide stroke care quality monitoring project, we hypothesized a high stroke incidence mainly among younger age groups in the industrial city of Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany. To test this hypothesis and to provide data on stroke incidence and case-fatality rates, a population-based stroke register was initiated.