OBJECTIVES : Within cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The aim of our study was to analyse early age-specific standardised mortality related to cerebrovascular diseases in 100,000 population for the age group 45-59.

METHODS : Data were derived from the WHO European Mortality Database for the years 1990 and 2014, for the age group 45-59. We compared standardised mortality related to cerebrovascular diseases in 100.000 population in Eastern European countries (EE; Bosnia-Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia), Western European countries (WE; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxemburg, Norway, Italy, United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland) and former states of the Soviet Union (fSU; Azerbaijan, Armenia, Estonia, Belorussia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tadjikistan, Turkmenia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan) in both sexes. In our analysis we used descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test.

RESULTS : In 1990, standardised mortality in men 45-59 was the highest in fSU (n=15) 134.19/100,000, the lowest rate was found in WE (n=17) 35.14/100,000. It significantly decreased to 91.13/100,000 (-32.09%, n=11) and 14.31/100,000 (-59.28%, n=15) by 2014 respectively (p<0.001). Mortality among men also decreased significantly in Eastern Europe (-54.14%; p<0.001) between 1990-2014. In 1990, standardised mortality in women 45-59 was the highest in fSU (n=15) 83.62/100,000, the lowest rate was found in WE (n=17) 21.11/100,000. It significantly decreased to 41.83/100,000 (-49.97%, n=11) and 8.80/100,000 (-58.29%, n=15) by 2014 respectively (p<0.001). Mortality among women showed a significant decrease in Eastern Europe (-57.53%; p<0.001) between 1990-2014.

CONCLUSIONS : Standardised mortality rate for cerebrovascular diseases showed considerable regional inequalities in the 45-59 age group probably resulting from the unequal economic development of the regions investigated which has an impact on the quality of healthcare provided. Regarding the sexes, male mortaliy rate was higher in all age groups.