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New Health Report Exposes Imminent Risk of a Stroke Crisis in Europe, report launched by experts from medical and patient communities calls on Europe's policy makers.

A report launched by experts from medical and patient communities calls on Europe's policy makers to take urgent action against preventable strokes that strike thousands of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients each year.

Affecting over six million people in Europe, AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm, increases the risk of stroke five-fold and is responsible for 15-20% of all strokes caused by blood clots.

The consequences of stroke can devastate not only a patient's quality of life, but also that of families and carers- The economic burden of stroke on the European economy is estimated at a staggering EUR 38 billion per annum.

The impact of stroke is predicted to rise dramatically as the number of individuals affected by AF is expected to increase 2.5 fold by 2050, due to an ageing population and improved survival of patients with conditions which predispose AF.

Many AF-related strokes could be prevented by earlier detection and improved treatment of AF.

Urgent coordinated action is needed to avoid the thousands of preventable strokes that leave many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients mentally and physically disabled or dead, every year. A report, How Can We Avoid a Stroke Crisis?, launched in the European Parliament today by Action for Stroke Prevention, a group of health experts from across Europe, proposes measures to tackle stroke in patients with AF, the most common, sustained abnormal heart rhythm and a major cause of stroke. Their proposal, endorsed by 17 leading European medical professional and patient organisations, calls for EU policy makers and Member State governments to act before the increasing frequency of these strokes becomes a major public health crisis.

The Report warns of a stroke epidemic across Europe, if actions are not taken now to slow the rising tide of preventable strokes occurring every year. Linda McAvan, Member of the European Parliament (MEP), commented, "It is important that government and healthcare policy makers take action to address the unmet medical needs in stroke prevention. I support the recommendations made in the Report by Action for Stroke Prevention, and believe that their implementation will contribute to the prevention of stroke in patients with AF and, in turn, reduce the dramatically increasing clinical, economic and social burden of stroke in Europe."
Source: Research and Markets

Source: ESC

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