Every 3 seconds, someone, somewhere suffers a stroke
*

12m

The incidence of stroke is high, and so is the human cost

Every year, there are

~12 million strokes worldwide,
and
7.3 million people die
 from stroke.* 
A quarter of all people
 over the age of 25 will experience a stroke in their lifetime.

Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke.

Nearly two-thirds
of worldwide stroke cases are
ischemic
(7.8 million per year), with an even higher proportion
(75%)
 in high-income countries. This means that
one in five
 people will have an ischemic stroke.

*Data taken from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
 

Stroke is no longer just a disease of the elderly

Stroke is no longer just a disease of the elderly

As an HCP, you may have noticed that stroke is increasingly

affecting younger people
, with the rate of all types of stroke increasing globally ~50% faster in people under 55 years old compared to those 55 and older. What does this mean for healthcare systems worldwide, let alone the human cost in years of happy and healthy life lost?

“I thought I was young. I was 41. And my life was kind of taken away from me.”

Unveil Hyvelle’s story

Stroke pathophysiology

To appreciate why stroke can be so devastating, we need to understand how it affects the brain. Acute ischemic strokes (ICD10: 163) and transient ischemic attacks (TIA, ICD10: G45) occur when blood flow to part of the brain is reduced or blocked, typically due to a thromboembolism traveling to the brain or stenosis of a cerebral artery.

Stroke pathophysiology

Lack of blood flow caused by these blockages leads to significant and often irreversible brain tissue damage, leading to the short- and long-term mental and physical consequences that make stroke so damaging.

TIA
Image created from Luengo-Fernandez, et al. 2013 and Gorelick, et al. 2004.

The impact of a single stroke extends far beyond the initial event and patient. Survivors and care partners need to navigate complex emotional, physical, and financial challenges

Stroke is now the

second leading cause of death globally
and a major contributor to long-term disability and dementia.

Stroke dramatically increases the

risk of cognitive decline
. Ischemic stroke accelerates the onset of dementia and increases its incidence nearly
fifty-fold
 among survivors.

Richard

"Stroke. It affected my whole family. I don't want them to go through that again."

Unveil Richard's story

Stroke leaves an emotional imprint on survivors, their families and care partners

At some point during their recovery, more than a quarter (27%) of stroke survivors will suffer from

depression
. In the first year after a stroke, patients commonly experience
anxiety
and
post-traumatic stress disorder
 (29.3% and 18% of patients, respectively). Additionally,
post-stroke emotionalism
 affects nearly a quarter of survivors and often persists long term.

 

Stroke survivors experience fatigue, and struggle with daily living

Many people

need rehabilitation
to regain their independence with everyday activities – feeding, bathing and dressing themselves, and climbing the stairs. They often also suffer with
cognitive impairment
 and
aphasia
.

More than

40%
of stroke patients
experience persistent dysphagia
 (>2 weeks), which can significantly increase the risk of pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. These complications lead to higher dependency among stroke survivors and a four-fold higher risk of dying.

 

Stroke can be a huge financial burden for healthcare systems and patients

Did you know that global healthcare costs exceed

$891 billion
annually?

 

Causes of stroke and TIA: Reducing the burden of stroke

Ten modifiable risk factors explain

90%
of the risk of stroke. By making small but meaningful lifestyle adjustments, people can
significantly lower
 their chances of having an ischemic stroke or TIA, protecting not only their health, but also the burden on families and healthcare systems.

Secondary stroke deserves another look #NoToTwo

For patients who have suffered from a stroke

There is a need for action to improve secondary stroke prevention.

Secondary stroke deserves 
another look

Some battles are unseen. But they are real – and they deserve our attention.

Stroke survivor stories

Making the invisible visible.