Dec. 2, 1999 (Baltimore) -- About 750,000 strokes occur each year in the U.S
Dec. 2, 1999 (Baltimore) -- About 750,000 strokes occur each year in the U.S., according to a study appearing in the December issue of the journal Stroke, a publication of the American Heart Association. That's up from a previous estimate of 500,000 per year.
The fact that the number of strokes occurring in this country is so much higher than previously thought is important from a public health standpoint, Rhys Williams, MS, the study's lead author, said in an interview with WebMD. "As the elderly population continues to grow, the stroke burden in this country will also grow unless something is done. The key point is that stroke has several modifiable risk factors, so it's possible to prevent much of the incidence of stroke we're seeing."
People can modify their risk of stroke in many ways, according to the American Heart Association, including quitting smoking, getting adequate exercise, consuming healthier foods, and checking blood pressure regularly. They must also be aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke. Williams says, "Stroke needs to be treated in an optimal fashion. That means getting to an emergency room as quickly as possible if a stroke is suspected."
This study confirms earlier findings that the incidence of stroke increases dramatically with age, but it also points out a new finding: the number of recurrent strokes in elderly patients is much higher than previously thought. "Total stroke incidence in people aged 65-74 is 1.5 times higher than first-ever stroke incidence, in those aged 74-84 it is twice as high, and in those aged 85 and older it is three times as high. This suggests that for those over 75, the majority of their strokes are recurrences," says Williams, who is director of the Department of Health Outcomes Management and Research of Knoll Pharmaceuticals in Mount Olive, N.J.
Williams says, "We need to educate the elderly and their caregivers to realize that strokes do recur, and to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke so action can be taken right away."
Steven Levine, MD, professor of neurology at Wayne State University, commented on the study for WebMD. He says, "It's not surprising that the incidence of stroke is higher than we previously thought. This seems to confirm research already done, which included more minorities and also found a much higher incidence of stroke."
"We clearly need to emphasize more public education efforts related to stroke, and we need more dedicated stroke people the way there are dedicated cancer people," Levine continues. "Neurologists may not be as aggressive as they could be about risk factor modification and acute treatment."
Vital Information:
- Although previous estimates said that 500,000 strokes occur in the U.S. each year, new data show that number is probably closer to 750,000.
- With the elderly population continuing to grow in this country, people should take steps to lower their risks and become aware of the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
- The risk of stroke increases substantially as a person ages, and many strokes in the elderly are recurrences.
