Stroke Epidemiology DNF Flashcards
Define stroke
Clinical syndrome of focal or general neurological deficit of vascular cause that persists beyond 24hrs or is interrupted by death within 24hrs.
Define TIA
A transient (less than 24 hours) neurological dysfunction caused by focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia, without evidence of acute infarction.
What are the different types of stroke?
Ischaemic stroke - blockage off blood supply to the brain.
Haemorrhagic stroke - bleeding in or around the brain
TIA - symptoms only last for less than 24hrs, temporary blockage.
What are the different types of ischaemic stroke?
Large artery atherosclerosis
Cardioembolism
Small vessel occlusion
Stroke of other (un)determined aetiology.
What are the different types of haemorrhagic stroke?
Intracerebral haemorrhage
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
What is the global burden of stroke?
1 in 4 people over 25yrs will have a stroke in their lifetime.
62% in under 70s.
53% of all strokes are in women
High levels of stroke related death and disability
£26billlion societal cost annually, including £8.6 for the NHS and social care - UK
What health inequalities exist in stroke nationality?
Higher prevalence in controal and NE and North Cumbria - both double the prevalence in London.
Higher ageing population, smoking, alcohol, more deprivation.
How does deprivation levels affect the prevalence of stroke?
More deprived - higher rates of ischemic and intracerebral haemorrhage - more drastic effect for ischemic.
What are the most common long term impacts of stroke?
77% - upper limb weakness
72% - lower limb weaknesss
60% visual impairement
54% facial weaknesss
50% - speech impairment, reduced bladder control
Others - impaired swallowing, aphasia, sensory loss, depression, impaired bowel control.
What are some unmodifiable risk factors for stroke?
Previous stroke or TIA
Age
Family history
Ethnicity
Gender
Pregnancy
What are some modifiable risk factors for stroke?
Hypertension
SMoking
Diabetes
Diet
Physical inactivity
Obesity
High cholesterol
Alcohol
Heart disease.
Are strokes prevantable?
WHO - 90% could be prevented - reducing HTN, diet, smoking and exercise
Would reduced cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and other sign death and suffering.
How has the prevalence of stroke changed over time?
Occurring at an earlier age- now over a third between 40-69yrs, the average dropped by 1/2 years.
Males - median age of stroke in younger than women.
What is the public health campaign to improve stroke outcomes?**
FAST
Face - unilater drooping
Arms - weakness
Speech - slurred
Time - faster admission to hospital, able to receive treatment
What population-wide strategies can be used to prevent stroke?
Smoking ban - reduce tobacco, salt, sugar and alcohol consumption
Affordable healthy food, PA and actvity facilities
Reducing deprivation by improving socio-economic conditions.
Regular stroke awareness and risk factors campaign.
Encouraging healthy lifestyle.
What can be done on a community level to reduce the risk of a stroke?
Community park runs
Community health centres - free blood pressure/weight checks
Community green space and exercise classes.
What factors can be done at the individual level to reduce stroke burden?
Screening for vascular risk factors.
Rapid CVD identification and management
Management of co-morbidities.
Why is it important to understand disease frequency?
Understand the size of the problem
Spotting outbreaks of a disease
Assess risk and management of condition
Aids planning of resources - over time, areas of healthcare failing, do they require more focus.
What factors should be included in the definition of a case definition and population at risk?
Place
Time
Demographics
Defininy event, signs,symptoms.
What is the most basic epidemiological measure?
Count - integers
Often a numerator of many measures
Important to distinguish between incidence and prevalence.
What is the difference between rate, ratio and proportion?
Ratio - one number divided by another - apples to oranges
Proportion - type of ratio, when all of numerator is included in denominator - red apples to all apples
rate - contain a measure of time eg 60km per hour.