New survey reveals severity of stroke still widely underestimated

Awareness of the gravity of stroke in UK is alarmingly low amongst both the general public and some health professionals according to a new survey released today by The Stroke Association.

The Stroke Association conducted a survey of 1006 members of the general public, 200 General Practitioners and 75 Accident and Emergency Doctors from across the UK as part of The Stroke Association's Stroke Awareness Week, which runs from 4th - 10th October. The survey intended to ascertain levels of knowledge on stroke, treatment and prevention. Results demonstrate a lack of knowledge of the severity of stroke, particularly amongst some health professionals, women and young people.

Every year over 130,000 people in UK have a stroke. Results show that most people think stroke is a minor condition with 34% of people estimating that there are only 50,000 people or less that have a stroke each year. Perhaps more alarming however, health professionals considerably underestimate the scale of stroke, with only 14% of GPs and 28% of A&E doctors accurately estimating the scale of the condition.

The number of women that have a stroke each year is also underestimated. Over 74,000 women have a stroke each year. This is more than double other serious conditions such as breast cancer, which has 40,000 new cases each year. The survey found that 61% of the general public believe serious conditions like breast cancer affect more women in the UK than stroke. This misconception is particularly high amongst 18-24 year olds, with 70% choosing breast cancer as the health condition they think affect most women.

The serious consequences of stroke are equally misunderstood. 93% of women surveyed do not rate death as one of the most common consequences of stroke, despite the fact stroke is responsible for 13% of all deaths in women. Again awareness was particularly low amongst 18-24 year olds with only 6% deeming death a common consequence of stroke.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive of The Stroke Association said:

"Stroke is the third biggest killer in the UK, but most people see it as something that will never effect them. Stroke is also the single largest cause of severe disability with over 250,000 people being affected at any one time.

A stroke attacks the brain and can happen to anyone at any time. It is vital that people, particularly younger adults, develop a greater understanding of the gravity and impact of stroke which we hope will motivate them into making the necessary lifestyle changes that could prevent a stroke in later life."

Members of the general public wishing to get further information on Stroke Awareness Week should contact The Stroke Association on 01604 623919, e-mail strokeawareness@stroke.org.uk or visit The Stroke Association's website on www.stroke.org.uk

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact the media team at The Stroke Association on 020 7566 0328 or e-mail Media team
Please note that we have an ISDN facility
Stroke Information Help line: 0845 30 33 100

Summary the of questions asked:

Please indicate which of the health problems listed below you think affect women in the UK the most and the second most.

Top Ranking
Breast cancer 61%
Heart disease 27%
Stroke 5%
Lung Cancer 4%
HIV/AIDS 4%

Second rank
Heart disease 33%
Breast cancer 16%
Stroke 28%
Lung Cancer 20%
HIV/AIDS 3%

What would be your estimate of the number of people in England and Wales who have had a stroke in an average year...would it be:

25,000 18%
50,000 34%
100,000 27%
More than 100,000 21%

Please indicate what you consider to be the most common consequences associated with stroke.

Paralysis 34%
Speech and lang 33%
Mobility problems 18%
Death 10%
Personality changes 2%
Visual problems 1%
Swallowing problems 1%

What action would you advise should be taken if a person has just suffered a TIA (mild stroke). People could select more than one answer:

Call ambulance 62%
Go/be taken to hospital 46%
Give aspirin/similar drugs 21%
Call the GP for a home visit 21%
Visit GP 10%
Do nothing but watch and wait 1%
Other 1%

Notes to editor

· A full breakdown of survey results is available on request. Please contact 0207 566 1500 or press@stroke.org.uk
· The Stroke Knowledge and Awareness Survey was partly funded by Lloydspharmacy as part of their support for Stroke Awareness Week 2004. Lloydspharmacy are collecting in store during October for The Stroke Association.
· Recommended action on Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) - According to The Royal College of Physicians Second Edition National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke, anyone who has a TIA should see their GP or go to the local hospital casualty department as quickly as possible.
· Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke. Of all people who suffer from a stroke, about a third are likely to die within the first 10 days, about a third are likely to make a recovery within one month and about a third are likely to be left disabled and needing rehabilitation. Stroke has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition. A quarter of a million people are living with long-term disability as a result of stroke in the UK.
· The Stroke Association is the only national charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its community services. These include dysphasia support, family support, information services, welfare grants, publications and leaflets. We also campaign, educate and inform to increase knowledge of stroke at all levels of society and we act as a voice for everyone affected by stroke.
· A stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted. Most strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain. Some strokes are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel. When the blood supply is disrupted, parts of the brain become damaged or destroyed. Some strokes are fatal whist others can cause permanent or temporary paralysis to one side of the body and loss of the ability to speak, read or write. Recovery may be slow and can vary from person to person.

back to top|