Stroke: key points
Stroke is predominantly a disease of elderly people. Both incidence and mortality rates are much higher among older than younger people.
Incidence
- Amongst the Scottish population, the incidence of stroke has fallen over time. Although the 2008/09 data suggest that this decline may be starting to level off, it may only be a 'blip' in the longer term downward trend.
- While a greater number of women have strokes than men, women tend to have strokes at an older age, and the age-standardised incidence rates for different age groups are higher for men than for women.
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Risk factors for stroke include:
- high blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol
- poor diet
- obesity
- smoking
- physical inactivity
- excessive alcohol intake
- diabetes
- socio-economic deprivation.
Mortality
- Stroke mortality rates in Scotland have fallen over time, but remain high compared to most other western European countries.
- The rate for cerebrovascular disease (CVD) for under-75s (standardised by age) rose by 4% between 2007 and 2008. However, the rate has fallen by almost 48% over the period 1995-2008, approaching the Scottish Government's target of a 50% reduction in premature stroke mortality over the period 1995-2010.
- More women than men die from strokes, but as the female deaths tend to occur at an older age, the age-standardised mortality rates for several age groups are higher for men than women.
- Mortality rates remain higher in west central Scotland and in deprived areas.
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