HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE PREVALENCE INCREASING IN UK’S SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION
HAEMORRHAGIC STROKE PREVALENCE INCREASING IN UK’S SOUTH ASIAN POPULATION
New data presented at the World Congress of Cardiology
BEIJING, 18 JUNE 2010. Haemorrhagic stroke prevalence is increasing among the UK’s South Asian population comprising of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri-Lankans, due to an increase in one of its key risk factors, high blood pressure (hypertension), according to new data presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) Scientific Sessions in Beijing, China.
The prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke increased significantly among South Asians during the study (27.7 per cent in 1997-1999; 29.5 per cent in 2000-2002; and 45.8 per cent in 2003-2005, whilst the prevalence of the condition decreased in European Caucasians during the same period. Similarly, the prevalence of hypertension – the main risk factor for haemorrhagic stroke – also increased in the South Asian group over the same time period (84.6 per cent in 1997-1999 to 88.9 per cent in 2003-2005) but remained the same in European Caucasians.
Haemorrhagic stoke accounts for 10 to 30 per cent of all stroke admissions to hospital. It is associated with several risk factors including hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, which are becoming increasingly prevalent among ethnic minority groups. An understanding of secular trends in the prevalence of haemorrhagic stroke admissions and in-hospital mortality in a multi-ethnic population is required to delineate the needs for providing a dynamic healthcare service, not only in multi-ethnic UK but also rapidly developing countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri-lanka.
“The ethnic differences observed in the prevalence of hypertension among haemorrhagic stoke patients could be due to several factors including inherent genetic or lifestyle differences, variations in their medical management and warrant further investigation,” said Dr Rahul Potluri, Honorary Research Associate, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London. “Our observations outline the importance of a targeted health care approach in migrant ethnic minorities and highlight the importance of extending the study worldwide to identify acquired and environmental causes of such disease in these populations where clearly their incidence is increasing”
Ethnic differences in the prevalence of haemorrhagic stoke admissions to a multi-ethnic hospital population in Birmingham, UK and associated mortality, were studied over a nine year period (1997-2005). The secular trends in hospital admission rates and the prevalence of risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation and myocardial infarction among European Caucasian, South-Asian and Afro-Caribbean patients were observed.
About the World Congress of Cardiology
The World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions is the official congress of the World Heart Federation and is held every two years. Through the Congress the World Heart Federation offers an international stage for the latest developments in science and public outreach in the field of cardiovascular health. The World Congress of Cardiology places emphasis on the complementary nature of science and public outreach and strives to spread the message that through individual, community and patient-care interventions, the growing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases can be prevented. www.worldcardiocongress.org
About the World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight against heart disease and stroke with a focus on low- and middle-income countries via a united community of more than 200 member organizations. With its members, the World Heart Federation works to build global commitment to addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges ideas, shares best practice, advances scientific knowledge and promotes knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease – the world’s number one killer. It is a growing membership organization that brings together the strength of medical societies and heart foundations from more than 100 countries. Through our collective efforts we can help people all over the world to lead longer and better heart-healthy lives. For more information, please visit www.worldheart.org
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