Stroke Burden, Epidemiology, and New Approaches to Stroke Prevention

Stroke is a devastating medical issue that can lead to disability and death. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Dr. Umberto Campia discusses stroke and new approaches to stroke prevention.

Key Topics: Stroke Definition and Mechanisms:

• A stroke is defined as a neurological deficit caused by an acute focal injury to the central nervous system via a vascular cause

• Two main mechanisms of injury:

  1. Cerebral infarction (tissue death due to lack of blood flow)

  2. Intracranial hemorrhage

Types of Stroke:

• Ischemic strokes account for 87% of strokes

• Hemorrhagic strokes account for 13%

• About 25% of strokes have an unknown cause

Stroke Prevalence and Impact:

• 5th leading cause of death in the United States

• Approximately 800,000 people have a stroke each year

• Two-thirds experience their first cerebral vascular event

• About 30% of patients have a recurrent stroke

• Estimated direct and indirect costs in 2018 were $74 billion

• Every 40 seconds someone in the US has a stroke

• Every 4 minutes an American dies from a stroke

Prevention Strategies:

Aggressive treatment of risk factors:

1. Hypertension

2. Diabetes

3. High cholesterol

4. Smoking

5. Heart disease

• Use of anti-platelet medications

• Surgery or stenting for carotid artery disease

• Anticoagulation for patients with arrhythmias or heart conditions

Research Findings:

• Decreasing blood pressure by 10 mmHg can reduce stroke risk by 33%

• Reducing cholesterol levels can significantly lower stroke risk

• Recent trials (APEX and CAMPUS) show promise in stroke prevention using novel oral anticoagulants

The transcript emphasizes the importance of understanding stroke mechanisms, risk factors, and ongoing research into prevention and treatment.