In the not-so-distant future, strokes will surge, threatening lives and straining healthcare. Brace yourself for the alarming reality.
Key points:
- The number of people experiencing strokes in the UK is expected to rise by over 50% to 151,000 per year by 2035.
- Contributing factors include worsening physical health, rising alcohol consumption, and low exercise levels among an ageing population.
- Insufficient action on prevention exacerbates the situation.
- High blood pressure remains the biggest risk factor for strokes, but it is still underdiagnosed.
- Stroke-related costs are estimated to reach £43 billion this year, with 100,000 new stroke hospital admissions annually.
- By 2035, there could be 151,000 stroke admissions per year, affecting 1.3 million to 2.1 million survivors.
- Costs, including health and social care expenses, informal care, and economic impact, may exceed £75 billion.
Source: