Sobering Stroke Statistics from China
During the opening ceremonies of the Stroke Prevention and Diagnosis Meeting attended by more than 300 specialists in China, Minister of Health Chen Zhu stated that the cost of treatment for stroke has reached 20 billion RMB. Slightly more than half of this total can be attributed to direct hospital costs associated with ischemic stroke. Mortality attributed to stroke is four to six times that attributed to cardiac arrest, and the cost burden of stroke is ten times that of cardiovascular disease.
Equally sobering is the comparison with other countries. Stroke is the number one cause of death in China, with a mortality rate four times higher than those of Western countries, and three and a half times that of Japan. Notably, the recurrence of stroke is 27 percent in Beijing—the highest among major cities worldwide. Overall, 40 percent of stroke patients presenting at outpatient clinics are recurrences, while one third of all stroke patients can be expected to have an event within three to five years after initial diagnosis.
According to Minister Chen, the strategy for reducing the incidence of stroke will include identifying high-risk populations and early diagnosis and intervention; thus, investments in screening and prevention may hold the greatest promise in the near future. Along these lines, developing standards of care for diagnosis, management and surgical intervention is the highest priority. The goal is to establish care centers at a regional, provincial and local level within three years. Public awareness and education will also be an important component.