NEW SURVEY REVEALS SEVERITY OF STROKE STILL WIDELY UNDERESTIMATED

Awareness of the gravity and scale of stroke compared to other major conditions widely varies amongst health professionals, according to a new survey released today by The Stroke Association.

The Stroke Association commissioned NOP to conduct a national survey amongst health professionals and the general public to examine knowledge of stroke and how it should be treated. The survey was completed by 200 General Practitioners, 75 Accident and Emergency doctors and 1000 members of the public. The survey was conducted as part of The Stroke Association's Stroke Awareness Week, which runs from 4th-10th October and is focusing on stroke prevention.

Each year over 130,000 people a year have a stroke, and of those a third are left with long-term disabilities. However, only 14% of GPs and 28% of A&E doctors accurately estimated the true scale of condition, with the majority of health professionals (at 39% of GPs and 33% of A&E doctors) believing that only 50,000 people or under have a stroke each year.

The extent to which stroke affects women was also widely underestimated. There are 74,000 new female cases of stroke reported each year compared to 40,000 cases of breast cancer. However when asked what conditions were most likely to affect women in the UK, only 36% of GPs placed stroke amongst the top two conditions whilst 63% chose breast cancer. A&E doctors were equally likely to place breast cancer and stroke amongst the top two conditions that affect women in the UK . However, women are three times more likely to die from stroke than breast cancer.

There were also differences in the most appropriate course of action GPs and A&E doctors would recommend for Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIAs) or 'mini strokes'. Whilst the symptoms of TIAs last for under 24 hours, as many as 20% of cases can go on to have a full stroke within a month of their condition.  Recent clinical guidelines recommend that TIA cases seek immediate medical attention. However, only 45% of GPs and 41% of A&E doctors chose this option as a first course of action. The majority chose the administering of aspirin. GPs had each seen an average of 9.6 patients who had suffered a TIA in the past year, while A&E doctors had seen an average of 142.3 such patients over the same period.

In addition to those patients who had suffered a stroke or TIA, both GPs and A&E doctors had seen a considerable number of patients over the preceding 12 months who they deemed to be at risk of suffering either condition.  Each GP had seen on average 96.8 such patients, while each A&E specialist had seen on average 448.5 such patients.

Only 5% of GPs and no A&E doctors felt that there was ample information available on stroke for patients and carers. More concerning however was that those on a low income (up to £9,999 p.a.) gave a lower rating compared to those on higher incomes on the information they felt was accessible on stroke. The findings perhaps indicate a need to make information more accessible to low income households.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association commented:

"Stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK and the major cause of severe disability; however, most people see it as a condition that will never affect them.

It is vital that the public develop a greater understanding of the gravity and impact of stroke. We also need to make information on stroke and its prevention more accessible to all households to motivate and empower people to make positive changes to their lifestyles and reduce their risk of stroke.

However, health professionals are a driving force in this process. Whilst health professionals have awareness of the impact a stroke can have on an individual, they seem to underestimate the national impact of the condition. Only once they fully appreciate this can we make inroads into preventing the 67,000 deaths from stroke each year."

Members of the general public wishing to get further information on Stroke Awareness Week should contact The Stroke Association on 01604 623919, e-mail strokeawareness@stroke.org.uk or visit The Stroke Association's website at www.stroke.org.uk

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Notes 

· A full breakdown of survey results is available on request. Please contact 0207 566 1500 or press@stroke.org.uk
· Please note we have an ISDN facility. Stroke Information Helpline 0845 30 33 100.
· The Stroke Awareness Survey was part funded by Lloyds Pharmacy who are supporting this year's Stroke Awareness Week.
· Recommended action on Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) - According to The Royal College of Physicians Second Edition National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke, anyone who has a TIA should see their GP or go to the local hospital casualty department as quickly as possible.
· Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition.  A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK .

  (4/10/04)