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This section briefly considers the short-term and the long-term outlook for stroke patients, and both the direct
and indirect costs of stroke.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability. It is the second leading cause of death worldwide
and the third leading cause in the USA. More than 30% of stroke victims die within 1 year of stroke onset.
Of stroke survivors in a major epidemiology study in the USA, 16% were institutionalised, 31% were dependent
on others for self-care and 20% were dependent for mobility. Data from the German Stroke data bank indicate
that 90 days after stroke onset 15% of those affected are dead, 19% have severe disabilities, 9% have moderate
disabilities and 57% have slight disabilities.
The severity of stroke and the brain territory affected determine the type and severity of residual disabilities,
which may include speech difficulty, loss of sensory function, bilateral loss of motor control, or hemiparesis.
Transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) or ministrokes, whose symptoms resolve within 24 hours, bring a high risk of
subsequent stroke or recurrent TIA. During the 90 days after a TIA, 25% of patients experience a stroke,
recurrent TIA, cardiovascular event or death. Stroke survivors in general are more likely to suffer a further
stroke than a myocardial infarction.
The annual cost of stroke in the USA has been estimated at 51.2 billion dollars in 2003, with 31 billion going on direct
healthcare and care costs. Based on direct costs alone stroke is among the most expensive illnesses in the USA.
- A leading cause of serious, long-term disability
- 700,000 new or recurrent strokes occur per year in the US
- Third leading cause of death in the US, stroke accounted for 167,661 deaths in 2002
- Second leading cause of death worldwide
- Accounts for > 50% of all hospitalizations for acute neurological disease
- The prevalance of stroke is about 4,700,000 and the estimated costs amounted to 51.2 Billion US-$
References:
American Heart Association. 2003 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update.
Muntner et al. Stroke 2002; 33 (5): 1209-1213. |
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© 2005 Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Germany. All rights reserved.
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