Background: Polish epidemiological studies reported high ratio of morbidity and mortality on first in life stroke attack, lasting for several years increased with age. We can decrease those indicators significantly after identifying the risk factors and introducing prevention of stroke. The aim of the study was epidemiological analysis of patients hospitalised in the Department of Neurology Medical University in Bialystok. We have concentrated on aetiology with risk factors and mortality, depending on the age and sex of our patients. Material and methods: We recorded all cases of stroke in patients hospitalised in the Department of Neurology, Medical University in Bialystok during one year. We collected data using questionnaires from POLKARD (National Programme of Prophylaxis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases). Results: We studied 408 patients – 185 (45.3%) women and 223 (54.7%) men with subarachnoid haemorrhage in 6.9%, intracerebral haemorrhage in 12.5% and ischaemic stroke in 80.6% cases. The most often observed risk factors were hypertension (81.2% cases), aerial fibrillation and morbus coronarius (38%). We observed case fatality rates in 11.6% patients with ischaemic stroke and in 21.5% with haemorrhagic stroke. Average mortality in the Department of Neurology Medical University in Bialystok was 13.5%. Conclusions: Hypertension is the most frequent risk factor of stroke attack and we often observed a few risk factors in one patient. Conducting treatment in stroke units can decrease early mortality in stroke.