Epidemiology of Stroke Incidence and Outcomes
Summary
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability worldwide, reflecting complex interactions among demographic change, vascular risk factors and health-care provision. Incidence rates vary by age, sex and geography, with higher burdens observed in low- and middle-income regions and marginalised populations. Over recent decades, declines in overall stroke incidence and mortality have been driven largely by improved risk factor management—particularly hypertension control and acute reperfusion therapies—while ageing populations and rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity temper these gains. Outcomes after stroke are shaped by aetiological subtype, acute care pathways and rehabilitation resources, yielding marked disparities in case fatality, functional dependence and quality of life. A comprehensive understanding of evolving incidence trends and outcome patterns is essential to target prevention strategies and optimise health-service planning on a global scale.
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Epidemiology of Stroke Incidence and Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiology of stroke incidence and outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Incidence: The number of new stroke events occurring in a defined population over a specified time period.
Case fatality rate: The proportion of individuals who die within a defined period after stroke onset.
Ischaemic stroke: A stroke subtype resulting from arterial occlusion and subsequent brain tissue infarction.
Intracerebral haemorrhage: Bleeding directly into the brain parenchyma, associated with higher acute mortality.
Modified Rankin Scale: A clinician-rated scale measuring the degree of disability or dependence in daily activities after stroke.
References
- Burden of intracerebral haemorrhage in Europe: forecasting incidence and mortality between 2019 and 2050. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe (2024).
- Epidemiology of intracerebral hemorrhage: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neurology (2022).
- Twenty-Year Change in Severity and Outcome of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes. JAMA Neurology (2022).
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