Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability worldwide.
Its incidence is increasing because the population ages. In addition, more young people
are affected by stroke in low- and middle-income countries. Ischemic stroke is more
frequent but hemorrhagic stroke is responsible for more deaths and disability-adjusted
life-years lost. Incidence and mortality of stroke differ between countries, geographical
regions, and ethnic groups. In high-income countries mainly, improvements in prevention,
acute treatment, and neurorehabilitation have led to a substantial decrease in the
burden of stroke over the past 30 years. This article reviews the epidemiological
and clinical data concerning stroke incidence and burden around the globe.
Keywords
stroke - burden - global - epidemiology
