Latest global stroke facts

MRI brain scans

Over 30 years, the global stroke burden has increased dramatically, with the bulk of the burden falling on lower and lower-middle-income countries.

Internationally, the global stroke burden has increased by 70 per cent in terms of the incidence of strokes, 43 per cent in deaths and 102 per cent in prevalence over the last 30 years, with the bulk of the burden falling on lower and lower-middle-income countries.

A message from Australian Stroke Alliance co-chair Professor Geoffrey Donnan AO, past president of the World Stroke Organisation:

“The World Stroke Organisation plays a critical role as the global umbrella organisation for both professional health care workers and those who have living experience of stroke. What better example is there than the regularly updated Global Stroke Fact sheet. It represents the most reliable statistics available on the burden of stroke world-wide and can be used by stakeholders in all countries to emphasise the extent of the problem to those with political influence. The facts have been reviewed and approved by the WSO executive and the outstanding Global Burden of Disease research group led by Valery Feigin. Only by acknowledging these disturbing statistics can we make progress in alleviating this unacceptable burden.”

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