Public understanding of the causes of high stroke risk in northeast Bulgaria.

Background: Knowledge of stroke risk factors is undocumented in Bulgaria.

Methods: 188 subjects in 2000 and 447 in 2003 were asked: 'Why do you think stroke is so common in this region?'

Results: Stress and poverty accounted for 69% of the first mentions in 2000 and 59% in 2003. There were no mentions of high blood pressure and no first mentions of smoking in 2000.