Conference paper
The Burden of Stroke: A Growing Health Care and Economy Problem
Vida Demarin
Abstract
Stroke is often considered as a significant economy burden in health care systems worldwide. According to epidemiological data, there has been a considerable decrease in stroke morbidity and mortality in most West European countries, mainly because of the implementation of prevention measures. Quite a reverse trend has been observed in most of the Central and East European countries where the epidemic of stroke is expected in the near future. New research facts from the fields of molecular science and genetics have enabled better understanding of the stroke pathogenesis while contemporary neuroimaging techniques as well as Doppler ultrasonography have contributed to our perception of stroke. During the last few years, there has been an increasing demand for redefinition and new classification of stroke and transient ischemic attack, implying new definitions such as acute ischemic cerebral syndromes, or acute neurovascular syndromes. It is important to emphasize the importance of stroke as a medical emergency that should be managed in specialized stroke units. The results from large clinical studies have shown that stroke units significantly reduce the mortality and disability among stroke patients. Treatment of acute ischemic stroke with rTPA-thrombolysis within the first 3 hours from the stroke onset, and antiaggregation and anticoagulation therapy have provided better stroke management. The prevention of risk factors for cardiovascular events is still the most effective measure that can reduce the risk of stroke. New clinical evidence has supported some antihypertensives and statins in stroke prevention due to the additional beneficial effect of the drugs apart from blood pressure and cholesterol lowering. Therefore, it is important to decrease the risk of stroke by implementing primary and secondary prevention, and introducing in practice the recently published recommendations for stroke management.
Keywords
Stroke; Primary and secondary stroke prevention; Stroke units; Treatment of stroke; Recommendations for stroke management
Hrčak ID:
15226
URI
Publication date:
1.10.2004.
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