FACT SHEET

EUROPEAN STROKE LEAGUE TABLE

The risk of having a stroke varies considerably throughout the world but is consistently highest in developed, industrialized countries. Even throughout these industrialized nations, however, there are notable variations between the rates of both fatal and non-fatal stroke (Table 1).[i]

Of the five European countries with the highest population, the United Kingdom tops the list in terms of stroke burden, with the greatest number of both fatal and non-fatal strokes per year, while France and Spain can claim the lowest rates of both fatal and non-fatal strokes.

	Annual non-fatal strokes (per 100,000 population)	Annual fatal strokes (per 100,000 population)	Annual total strokes (per 100,000 population)	Mild-to-moderate hypertension (per 100,000 population)
UK	1,046	93	1,139	11,650
Germany	576	85	661	10,800
Italy	433	91	524	15,700
France	304	63	367	14,400
Spain	294	79	373	11,250

Furthermore, a recent data analysis[ii] published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed the prevalence of hypertension is much higher in six European countries collectively (England, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden) than in Canada and the United States. In addition, the data analysis showed that the percentage of persons receiving treatment for their hypertension in the European countries was on average lower than for those in Canada and the United States . On average only eight percent of patients with hypertension had their condition controlled in the European countries, compared to 23 percent in the North American countries. The pattern strongly correlates with death rates from stroke in Europe.² The highest relative risk from hypertension in controlled clinical trials is the cardiovascular condition, stroke.

References:

[i] Source: Adapted from source: June 2001 Cardiomonitor and World Health Organisation www.whoint/whosis

[ii] Wolf-Maier K, et al. Hypertension prevalence and blood pressure levels in 6 European countries, Canada and the United States . JAMA 2003; 289: 2363-2369

"To meet the growing demands on health care for the one million strokes occurring in Europe per year, the set-up of stroke units has to be increased" says Professor Michael Brainin from Austria, "much the same way coronary care units have been established over 20 years ago. It has been shown that acute interventions as well as specialized, dedicated care for acute stroke victims can not only be lifesaving but also result in a longlasting and substantial decrease of long-term disability" (see attached press release)

However supporters of SAFE also believe in a strong role for primary care:
Dr Hugh McIntyre a consultant at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings says
"I fully endorse the launch of the patient group SAFE and believe that Government intervention could save thousands of stroke lives every year. I also endorse the call for more stroke Units in local hospitals, but most importantly believe that the emphasis should be on preventing strokes in the first place. The best thing to do about stroke is not to have one and more emphasis on blood pressure control, taking measures to reduce it, will have an enormous impact locally on preventing stroke."

As the attached stroke league table shows, of the five European countries with the highest populations, the UK tops the list in terms of stroke burden with the greatest number of both fatal and non-fatal strokes per year - three times higher than France and Spain and nearly double that of Germany .

(15/10/04)