With more and better medical facilities available, one would expect that the frequency of conditions like stroke would be falling. However, even with these latest advancements, the diseases are still one up on us. According to the latest estimates, diseases like stroke are affecting more people worldwide than ever before. And what is worse, even young people are falling prey to it.
According to a research study led by Valery Feigin and his colleagues from the Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, and published online in the journal The Lancet, not only is stroke affecting more people, the number of people dying because of it has also increased considerably since 1990.
The number of people suffering from stroke compared to 1990 has increased by a whopping 68%. The number of stroke survivors has increased by 84% while the number of people succumbing to it has increased by almost 26%. In addition, the number of disability-adjusted life years has increased by 12%.
The incidence of stroke in young people has also shown a significant increase
It was previously thought that stroke is primarily a condition affecting elderly people. But it has been increasingly affecting younger people between the ages of 20 and 64. In fact, the incidence of stroke in this age group has increased by almost 25%.
It is the hemorrhagic variety of stroke, and not the ischemic variety, that accounts for the majority of cases worldwide. It is the middle and the lower income countries that are facing the maximum brunt of the condition. Urgent steps need to be taken to advocate the preventive measures for stroke in these countries. Steps should also be taken to further improve the acute stage management of stroke patients.
Summary
The incidence of hemorrhagic stroke is increasing worldwide, with the low and middle income countries facing the maximum brunt of the condition. Unlike in the past, the condition is now becoming increasingly common in people between the ages of 20 and 64.