Stroke risk prevention policies fall worryingly short of best practices, Economist Intelligence Unit study finds
- A scorecard assessing stroke risk reduction policies across 20 countries revealed that, in most countries studied, less than a quarter of at-risk patients are being screened by physicians for hypertension and atrial fibrillation
- Nearly all countries studied have a robust healthcare infrastructure and numerous healthy living policies, but all show room for improvement
Cardiovascular diseases can be better addressed through greater support for stroke awareness initiatives, stroke registries and stronger clinical screening policies - Population-based approaches should work in parallel with the health sector that provides the early-intervention services
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017:
Stroke is a major health threat with significant clinical and economic impact for patients and for society. Although the risk factors for stroke and the methods to manage them are relatively well-understood, incidences of stroke are still predicted to increase globally. A new report released today by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) considers policy efforts to reduce risks of stroke, and what conditions are necessary for effective implementations. A scorecard rates 20 countries’ performance across different aspects of stroke prevention.
The report, Preventing stroke: uneven progress, sponsored by The Bristol-Myers Squibb–Pfizer Alliance finds that most countries studied score well for having a strong healthcare system, and for addressing lifestyle risk factors at national levels. However few score highly for stroke awareness at the population level, which is crucial for the general population to recognise stroke risk factors and symptoms, both of which are critical to decreasing the health and economic impact of stroke. Moreover, progress needs to be made in collecting data on stroke patients in real world situations, with only half the countries having, as of late 2015, a stroke registry.
Additionally, a survey of 1,000 physicians in the countries studied reveals distressing gaps between best practices and real-world practices in screening for two of the biggest and treatable risk factors of stroke: high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation (AF). In most countries physicians are, on average, screening only 23% and 16% of their at-risk patients for hypertension and AF, respectively.
The study finds that although many countries are making progress, particularly in economically advanced countries, there is much room for improvement.
Becca Lipman, the editor of the research programme, said: “For each element of the scorecard, policymakers’ commitment to close the gap between policy and best practice is crucial to reducing stroke incidence and mortality. Our research highlights the importance of giving healthcare professionals and patient groups the support, education and resources they need to bring those initiatives into practice.”
About the research
As part of the research, the EIU developed a scorecard that assesses 20 countries globally on 16 indicators. It rates performance across aspects including healthcare infrastructure, awareness, screening practices and lifestyle policies, including alcohol, diet and physical activity. To better understand how opportunistic screening for blood pressure and AF is applied in the real world, an online survey was also conducted of 1,000 physicians (50 in each country studied) to identify the proportion of patients screened in a primary care setting. An advisory board and interviews with cardiovascular health and stroke specialists, academics and patient groups helped to inform the development of the scorecard framework and the additional research.
The report is available to download here
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Becca Lipman, Editor – Thought Leadership
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About The Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world leader in global business intelligence. It is the business-to-business arm of The Economist Group, which publishes The Economist newspaper. The Economist Intelligence Unit helps executives make better decisions by providing timely, reliable and impartial analysis on worldwide market trends and business strategies. More information can be found at www.eiu.com.
About BMS-Pfizer Alliance
The Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer Alliance is committed to driving education and awareness about atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. With long-standing cardiovascular expertise and global scale, the Alliance strives to implement global, research-driven approaches to illuminate and address the unmet needs around strokes related to non-valvular atrial fibrillation, which are often fatal or debilitating. Through collaborations with non-profit organizations, the Alliance aims to provide patients, physicians, and decision makers with the information they need to understand and take appropriate action on risk factors associated with stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
