This page outlines the sources and definitions used throughout the stroke statistics dashboards. Where possible, consistent definitions and the year with the most up-to-date data for all of the nations have been used.
Number of stroke patients per year
Stroke definition: ICD-10 codes I61, I63 and I64
Timeframe: 2020 (England, Wales and NI), 2021 (Scotland)
Sources: Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) and Scottish Stroke Care Audit (SSCA)
Geographies: Country
Hospital admissions
Stroke definition: ICD-10 codes I60-64, G45 by national providers. Scotland is I61, I63 and I64 only by NHS board of residence and data are for hospital stays
Timeframe: 2019/20 England, Wales, NI; 2021 Scotland
Sources: England (HES); Scotland (ISD); Wales (PEDW); Northern Ireland (DoH)*
*Hospital Inpatient System, Hospital Information Branch, Information & Analysis Directorate, Dept. Of Health, NI (not publicly available)
Geographies: Nation
Stroke prevalence
Stroke definition: Patient with a stroke or TIA on a GP practice register
Timeframe: England (2019/20); Scotland (2021), Wales (2018/19); Northern Ireland (2020/21)
Sources: England (NHS Digital); Scotland (ISD); Wales (StatsWales); Northern Ireland (DoH)
Geographies: Nation; England (2020 CCGs); Scotland (Health Board); Wales (Health Board); Northern Ireland (Health and Social Care Trust)
Leading cause of death
Stroke definition: ICD-10 I60-69. This ONS leading cause of death category covers cerebrovascular disease (including stroke) and is based on a WHO framework
Timeframe: 2018
Source: ONS
Geographies: Country; Nation