Estimated worldwide lifetime stroke risk is 25% and growing

Stroke places considerable burdens of long-term disability and premature mortality on individuals, families, and society. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study synthesises epidemiological data to compare national, regional, and global estimates of incidence, mortality, and disability for hundreds of diseases, including ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Previous reports have shown that the global burden of stroke has been increasing.

In 2016, estimated global lifetime stroke risk for a 25-year-old during the remaining lifespan was 24.9%, an 8.9% relative increase from 1990. The lifetime risk for ischaemic stroke (18.3%) was higher than for haemorrhagic stroke (8.2%). Wide geographic variation included particularly high lifetime risks in East Asia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. China had the greatest lifetime stroke risk for men (41.1%); among Chinese women it was 36.7%. Higher lifetime risks were seen in high-middle sociodemographic index (SDI) countries and lower lifetime risks in low-SDI countries.