The trends in 28-day mortality of cerebral infarction, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage during the period 1986–1993 were assessed in the population aged 35–64 years in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Kaunas community-based stroke register was the source of data. During the study period, increasing trends in mortality from cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage were observed among both men and women. Mortality from subarachnoid hemorrhage decreased among women and did not change among men. These findings demand future detailed analysis of the specific risk factors for stroke in the Kaunas population as well as urgent response measures from public health officials in Lithua