Strokes expected to increase – In the News
Posted in In the News
Despite improvements in stroke prevention and management, the number of strokes in New Zealand will increase by 40 per cent over the next 10 years, a researcher has predicted.
This increase will come as a result due to our ageing and growing population and bring a need for more hospital beds and staff resources, writes Associate Professor Anna Ranta in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington, Dr Ranta’s projections suggest strokes could increase to 12,000 per year by 2028. “We knew it would go up but didn’t expect the increase to be quite this high,” she said.
“The total number of strokes will increase because the population will increase, and the disproportionate increase in people over 65 with 75 per cent of strokes occurring in that age group,” she told Radio NZ.
“Because these figures are growing due to our population growing, it is imperative that the health sector plans ahead and implements effective and appropriate prevention and post-stroke intervention strategies to manage the rise in stroke burden.”
The publication was covered by local media, including:
Radio NZ: ‘Wake-up call’: NZ stroke rates predicted to rise 40 percent
NZ Herald: Number of stroke sufferers could skyrocket in next decade
Stuff.co.nz: ‘Wake-up call’ study shows strokes could increase 40 per cent by 2028
Radio NZ: Numbers of people suffering strokes to rise – report
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