Stroke Patients in Europe -- Is Lack of Awareness Causing Disability?

Stroke Patients in Europe -- Is Lack of Awareness Causing Disability?

October 26, 2006

    BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Preliminary results from the world's most comprehensive
global stroke survey are announced today by the Stroke
Alliance for Europe (SAFE) and AstraZeneca. The initial
survey results point to a widespread lack of awareness of
stroke.

    Eighty one per cent of patients and carers surveyed
were not aware of stroke's symptoms before they were
affected by the disease. After a stroke, patients'
awareness levels increased but only to 66 %. Just 30 % of
stroke patients realised they were experiencing a stroke
once their symptoms started.

    Awareness of the risk factors for stroke was also very
low among patients. Despite 54 % of patients surveyed
suffering from high blood pressure, only a third were aware
that hypertension was a risk factor for stroke. Only 13 % of
patients thought they could be at risk before they suffered
a stroke.

    Arne Hagen, President of SAFE said, "Recognising
the signs and symptoms of stroke is essential for getting
patients to hospital early -- stroke is a disease where
time to treatment affects the level of disability. If
patients are recognised and diagnosed earlier, it will help
reduce stroke-related disability seen in some patients. More
awareness raising programmes are needed to help patients
affected by this neglected disease."

    These preliminary survey results are from a total of
362 individuals who completed a written questionnaire. Of
these, approximately 59 per cent were stroke patients and
41 per cent carers.

    One surprising statistic challenges the concept that
stroke is an old persons' disease; 26 % of patients who
completed the survey were under 60 years of age when they
suffered their first stroke.

    The full survey, the results of which are expected in
early 2007, will be extensive; a total of 2,400 patients
and 2,400 caregivers will be polled following recruitment
through medical professionals. Participating countries
include France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Sweden,
Australia, China, Canada and the USA. The preliminary
results announced today are from France, Germany, UK,
Sweden, Spain and Italy. A steering committee, consisting
of patient organisations such as SAFE and leading stroke
experts is guiding the development of the survey.

    The research project, launched in partnership with SAFE
at the European Stroke Conference (ESC) meeting in May 2006,
aims to assess the true burden, social consequences, and
functional and emotional distress caused by stroke around
the world.

    Fifteen million people worldwide suffer a stroke each
year; 5.5 million of these die and a further 5 million are
left with varying degrees of disability.(1) Stroke
represents the fourth biggest burden of disease worldwide,
draining billions each year in healthcare costs,
rehabilitation and lost productivity. Stroke is the second
cause of death worldwide and a leading cause of adult
disability in developed countries.(1) Despite these
figures, many in Europe are unaware of the risk factors,
symptoms and potential consequences of stroke.

    AstraZeneca is a company with a firm commitment to
stroke research, which continues to support scientists,
physicians, and patients with the aim of improving stroke
treatment. 

    About AstraZeneca:

    AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare
business engaged in the research, development, manufacture
and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the
supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's
leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of
over $21.4 billion and leading positions in sales of
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, oncology and
neuroscience products.
 
    AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability
Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

    The Neuroscience pipeline includes investigational
compounds for the treatment of depression and anxiety,
dementia, stroke, pain control and anaesthesia.

    About SAFE:

    The aims and objectives of SAFE, a non-profit-making
organisation, are to promote awareness and understanding of
stroke, to promote prevention, to identify those at risk, to
improve access to appropriate treatment and care, to improve
the quality of life of people affected by stroke and their
families and carers, to promote better access to accurate
and understandable information, to increase the priority
given to stroke by policy and decision-makers and by health
care providers, to promote research on stroke and related
areas and to co-ordinate the efforts of national stroke
patient groups in Europe.

    For more information, visit http://www.safestroke.org
.

    References:

    1. The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke, World Health
Organisation, 2004. Available at:
http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/resources/atlas/en
. 

    For more information, please contact:

     Virginie Bousquet
     Global PR Manager 
     AstraZeneca
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

     Sarah Schapira
     Senior Account Executive 
     Porter Novelli
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

SOURCE  AstraZeneca