Published by: Vivek Dubey
The health and economic impacts of stroke will disproportionately affect lower and middle-income countries.
Experts recommend measures to improve stroke surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation.
Global stroke prevalence has almost doubled over the past 30 years, especially in lower and middle-income countries.
Current trends suggest that the World Health Organisation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3.4 may not be met.
Stroke leads to death and permanent disability of millions each year, costing billions of dollars.
Precise forecasting of stroke’s health and economic impacts is challenging due to inherent uncertainties.
Stroke deaths in lower and middle-income countries are projected to rise sharply, increasing from 5.7 million in 2020 to 8.8 million in 2050.
Asia’s share of global stroke deaths may rise from 61% in 2020 to 69% by 2050.
Stroke deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa will rise from 6% in 2020 to 8% in 2050.
The increase in stroke deaths is due to uncontrolled risk factors and lack of care services.
Global death rate among people over 60 years is predicted to fall by 36% by 2050.
Lesser reduction in stroke deaths among younger people might be due to diabetes and obesity.
Combined cost of stroke will rise from $891 billion per year in 2017 to $2.31 trillion in 2050.
Major barriers include low awareness of stroke and its risk factors, and limited surveillance data.
Major facilitators include well-developed stroke organisations and networks, and universal healthcare.