An increase in fatalities amongst young people bucks a positive trend.
A new study by researchers in the University of Oxford has found that between 2001 and 2010 fewer people in England dies from strokes, whilst cases of them in young people are on the rise.
The research suggests that most of the reduction in the stroke-related eths come from more people surviving strokes, which is a possible result of improved care.
Overall, the study reflected a 6% decline in mortality for men, with the greatest fall being those aged between 65 to 74, which showed an annual drop of 8%. The total number of strokes also fell, by 1.3% for men. Again, the decline was larger in the older age groups.
Conversely, s more older people are surviving strokes, the number of deaths from strokes in people aged 35 to 54 has been increasing at around 2.2% for men each year over the same period.
The survey showed that by the end of the decade survival rates had improved. The study was conducted by NHS England’s Hospital Episode Statistics to see all hospital admissions for stroke cases, and the National Office of Statistics’ mortality data to record the number of deaths.
Researchers have speculated that the rise in stroke fatalities in the younger people could be as a result of growing levels of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles.
They recommend that to reduce the burden of stroke care on hospitals and the emergency services “prevention of vascular events needs to be strengthened”.
Suggestions to reduce your risk of a stroke are to eat a healthy diet, take regular exercise, not drink more that 14 units of alcohol a week and to give up smoking.
Source: Benenden Health
