The Incidence of Stroke Continues to Rise
About the Author
Troy Trygstad, PharmD, PhD, MBA, is executive director of CPESN USA, a clinically integrated network of more than 3500 participating pharmacies. He received his doctor of pharmacy and master of business administration degrees from Drake University and a doctorate in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy from the University of North Carolina. He has recently served on the boards of directors of the Pharmacy Quality Alliance and the American Pharmacists Association Foundation. He also proudly practiced in community pharmacies across North Carolina for 17 years.
Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the fourth leading cause in the United States.1,2 Age-adjusted stroke mortality declined 38% from 2000 to 2015 and more than 80% over the past half century.3 However, the incidence of new strokes and of strokes that result in death within a year is growing because of the aging population, particularly as the large baby boomer generation reaches older age.1 Just over 3% of the US population reports a history of stroke.4
The Economic Burden of Stroke
In the United States, the average cost of stroke care after the event is $59,900 per patient per year, including both direct and indirect costs.5 Estimates of the total US economic burden range from the high tens of billions to more than $100 billion, depending on which costs of additional care and lost productivity are included. Roughly one-third of the cost is direct (care delivery), one-third is reduced productivity, and one-third is lost productivity due to death.4
The Societal Burden of Stroke
Strokes affect not only patients but also family members, employers, and the community at large. Stroke can cause significant physical and mental disability, placing a heavy burden on those around the patient. Loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living, along with losses in social function, memory, and connectedness, can create a high emotional burden.
A Strategy Shift Driven by Better Knowledge and Better Treatment
Not many decades ago, clinicians had trouble identifying strokes early in their onset and, once the damage was done, relied largely on observation and supportive care. Today, the emphasis is on the “golden hour” (the critical first hour after stroke symptoms begin, when rapid treatment can best limit brain damage), public service announcements and education on recognizing stroke, and much more sophisticated treatment plans and therapies, both in the acute setting and long after the event.
