[Mortality in vascular diseases of the central nervous in the Katowice province in comparison with other provinces and all Poland (evaluation based on hospital statistical charts)]. / Czestosc zgonów z powodu chorób naczyniowych osrodkowego ukladu nerwowego w województwie katowickim w porównaniu z innymi województwami i cala Polska (ocena na podstawie szpitalnych kart statystycznych).

ABSTRACT

As part of the programme of investigations on the effect of environmental pollution, which is far advanced in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, on the health of the population the authors analysed the death rate from vascular diseases of the central nervous system. Using the data of the Central Statistical Bureau this death rate in the years 1976-1986 in the Province of Katowice was compared with those in the neighbouring provinces of Bielsko, Czestochowa and Opole, and with those in the so called clean provinces--Chelm, Zamosc, Zielona Góra. The death rate from these diseases in the provinces of Katowice, Czestochowa and Opole (with particularly high pollution of air and soil) was higher than in the control provinces, and the authors consider the possibility of a harmful effect of this pollution on the incidence of and mortality from the vascular diseases of the central nervous system. The increase of the death rate in the Province of Katowice was due to a 49% rise in the mortality in the group of men aged 50-59 years. The rise of this death rate in Poland was caused by increased mortality in the age group 40-59 years, and not in the older age groups, as it had been prognosticated earlier. The authors suggest long-term prospective studies in this region.