LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Europe remains at risk of a devastating stroke crisis, according to a major new Report, How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis in Europe? published today, on World Stroke Day, by Action for Stroke Prevention (ASP). Alarmingly, the Report highlights that the first time many people will find out they have AF is when they have a stroke. Furthermore, approximately 70% of patients with known AF who had a stroke caused by a blood clot were not receiving anticoagulant therapy to prevent AF-related stroke at the time. iv v vi With stretched healthcare budgets and the annual cost of stroke in Europe at approximately 64 billion, more needs to be done to reduce the number of these serious, costly, and yet preventable strokes.
In addition to their Report, ASP has launched two supplementary Reports for healthcare decision makers and healthcare professionals respectively, that provide concrete action steps that can be taken at a community level to reduce the personal and economic impact of AF-related stroke.
Reducing a Preventable Burden: Effecting Change
We need to ensure that AF is recognised as a serious risk factor for stroke in national prevention plans and that concrete actions are defined in these plans that support earlier diagnosis and improved awareness, education and prevention, said world-renowned Cardiology expert, John Camm, Professor of Clinical Cardiology at St Georges University, London, UK. It is our hope that national governments will address this as they plan how to meet the United Nations commitment to reduce non-communicable diseases by 25% by the year 2025.
The critical challenge is for key parties healthcare professionals, policy-makers, medical societies, patient advocacy groups and industry alike to work together to reduce the burden of AF-related stroke.
Recommendations made by the Report and supporting supplementary Reports include:
Cecilia Wikstrm, Member of European Parliament (MEP) and a co-author of the Reports foreword commented, I support the recommendations made by Action for Stroke Prevention and believe it is important that they are addressed in stroke, cardiovascular and non-communicable disease strategies. Their implementation will contribute to the prevention of stroke in people with AF and, in turn, reduce the dramatically increasing clinical, economic and social burden of stroke in Europe. It is important that governments and healthcare policy makers take action to ensure that diagnosis and appropriate treatment are available to all European citizens.
Lack of Knowledge Increases Risk
A new IPSOS MORI survey of 9,211 people from 20 countries across the globe has underlined the urgent need to act on Action for Stroke Preventions recommendations. Findings in Europe highlight that whilst nearly a third (31%) of people fear having a stroke above somevii other serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol, 52% of people in Europe have not heard of AF. Worryingly, the survey also revealed that 85% of people in Europe are unaware that AF is a serious risk factor for stroke. Whilst 65% of Europeans identified high blood pressure as a stroke risk factor, only 15% know that AF is a risk factor for stroke, despite AF increasing the risk of stroke more than high blood pressure.
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New Report Confirms Europe is on the Brink of a Stroke Crisis