If no action is taken, the number of annual stroke deaths is expected to double to nearly 10 million deaths by 2050.
- Experts say stroke deaths could rise from 6.6 million in 2020 to 9.7 million in 2050 if no action is taken.
- Low- and middle-income countries are most affected by the disease, particularly those located in Asia.
- Experts have proposed recommendations that could combat the projected rise in stroke deaths.
The stroke (stroke) has serious repercussions on health. It is the leading cause of acquired physical disability in adults and the second leading cause of dementia. (after Alzheimer’s disease). And its impact should be increasingly heavy if measures are not taken. taken. According to a report from Lancet Neurologythe number of deaths related to this pathology will double in thirty years.
Stroke: a global increase which would mainly affect low-income countries
“Unless urgent action is taken, the number of people dying from stroke worldwide is estimated to increase by 50% by 2050 to 9.7 million deaths per year, with annual costs as high as 2.3 billion US dollars”, warn the authors of report published on October 9, 2023.
Forecasts indicate that low- and middle-income countries will be hardest hit by the increase in stroke-related deaths from 5.7 million deaths in 2020 to 8.8 million in 2050. On the other hand, mortality linked to this disease should remain relatively stable in high-income countries with around 900,000 deaths per year.
“Asia accounted for by far the largest proportion of stroke deaths globally in 2020 (61%, or approximately 4.1 million deaths) and this is expected to reach around 69% by 2050 (around 6.6 million deaths). Although lower compared to Asia, the number of annual global stroke deaths in sub-Saharan African countries will increase from 6% in 2020 to 8% in 2050. We need to take a hard look at what’s driving this increase, including the growing burden of uncontrolled risk factors – particularly high blood pressure, and the lack of stroke prevention and care services. in these regions”, precise in a communicated Professor Jeyaraj Pandian, President-elect of the World Stroke Organization who worked on this research.
Stroke management:we need a drastic improvement today”
Faced with these alarming estimates of prevalence strokesit is imperative to act quickly to reduce the risks, according to 12 experts brought together to establish new recommendations to combat this disorder also called “stroke”.
“Among the main obstacles identified featured low awareness of stroke and its risk factors (which include high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, obesity, unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and smoking)as well as limited surveillance data on stroke risk factors, stroke events, management, and outcomes”they explain in the report press release.
They therefore recommend:
- put surveillance systems in place to provide epidemiological data precise on stroke to guide prevention and treatment;
- to raise awareness the general public on ways to prevent and quickly take care of strokes;
- prioritize the development of more effective stroke care services, capacity building, training, provision of appropriate equipment, treatments and affordable medicines;
- adapt recommendations to regional contexts;
- establish local, national and regional ecosystems involving all relevant stakeholders to co-create, implement stroke surveillance, prevention, acute care and rehabilitation.
Professor Sheila Martins, from theUniversity Federal from Rio Grande do Sulin Brazil, and president of the World Stroke Organization, warns: “LGaps in stroke services across the country world are catastrophic. We need a drastic improvement today, not in 10 years.”
