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The potential impact of strokes, a condition largely preventable and treatable, is projected to result in nearly 10 million annual deaths by 2050, particularly affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This prediction arises from a collaborative effort between the World Stroke Organization and the Lancet Neurology Commission, which has produced four comprehensive studies.
These studies provide practical recommendations aimed at alleviating the global burden of stroke. The findings have been published in the esteemed Lancet Neurology journal. The report underscores that stroke-related deaths are anticipated to rise from 6.6 million in 2020 to a staggering 9.7 million by 2050. Additionally, it is projected that the percentage of stroke-related deaths in LMICs will increase from 86 percent to 91 percent. The report emphasizes the vital role of evidence-based, practical strategies in addressing this looming crisis. By diligently implementing and monitoring the commission’s recommendations, which are firmly rooted in evidence, there is potential to significantly reduce the global burden of stroke, effectively countering this ominous projection.
The Commission authors have distilled their findings into 12 evidence-based recommendations, covering stroke surveillance, prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), underscores the importance of adopting evidence-based stroke care to mitigate disability and prevent new strokes. The ICMR is actively involved in crafting country-specific ambulatory care models at the primary care level to combat non-communicable diseases. The Government of India is dedicated to formulating evidence-based policies and their implementation through the National Programme for Prevention & Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). A notable achievement is the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), which utilized technology-driven innovations to digitally monitor over 2 million patients, achieving real-time blood pressure control in 50 percent of cases. The IHCI was honored with the 2022 UN Inter-Agency Task Force and WHO Special Program on Primary Health Care Award.
Professor Jeyaraj Pandian, President-Elect of the World Stroke Organization and a lead author of the Commission, emphasizes the need to scrutinize the factors driving this increase. Dr. Ivy Sebastian, Neurologist and Stroke Fellow in Calgary, Canada, and the lead author of the paper on “Stroke Systems of Care in Southeast Asia,” highlights the diversities and commonalities in healthcare systems, advocating for timely interventions such as intravenous thrombolysis, thrombectomy, and stroke unit care delivered through stroke-ready centers.
Dr. Yogeshwar Kalkonde, the lead author of the paper “Stroke Surveillance in Southeast Asia,” points out that India’s National Stroke Registry Program and Thailand’s national database can serve as valuable sources for epidemiological data on stroke. Dr. Prashant Mathur, Director of the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), ICMR, Bangalore, emphasizes the importance of National Hospital-based stroke registries and population-based stroke registries conducted by ICMR across India. Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, Scientist-G at the NCD division of ICMR, highlights the development of stroke care models in India and stresses the significance of screening and treating high blood pressure, an achievement realized through the India Hypertension Control Initiative.
