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National stroke report a call for action
With the billion-dollar impact of stroke uncovered, and rates predicted to rise, experts are calling for urgent investment into prevention.
For each person who had a stroke in 2023, their lifetime cost to the economy will total $350,000, and half of that cost will be created in the first year alone.
That is according to a new report from the Stroke Foundation, which reveals the full impact of stroke in Australia, detailing healthcare costs as well as savings from the implementation of prevention initiatives.
It harnesses a call to action to address stroke and its risk factors, to prevent incidences and associated costs of stroke incidences increasing.
In 2023, the report found that 45,785 Australians experienced a stroke, including 34,793 for the first time and 10,992 a recurrent stroke. This translates to one stroke every 11 minutes.
According to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, stroke was the nation’s third leading cause of death in 2023, up from fourth position the year before.
While stroke is often associated with older people, one in four first-ever strokes in 2023 occurred in people aged under 65 years, while one in 10 of those who experienced a recurrent stroke were in the same age bracket.
In partnership with Monash University, the Stroke Foundation report provides an evidence-base for healthcare organisations and governments to improve policy and investment in prevention, treatment, and recovery for survivors of stroke, their families and carers.
Professor Mark Morgan, Chair of RACGP Expert Committee – Quality Care, said the report adds weight to the RACGP’s advocacy for the health system to ‘take prevention seriously’.
‘This research is a salient reminder for GPs of the devastating impact of stroke on individuals,’ he told newsGP.
‘A good start would be to invest in patient rebates for regular comprehensive health assessments at all ages, rather than just once in middle age and every year from the age of 75.
‘These “birthday” health assessments would provide funding for the persons regular GP and their teams to apply all the screening, case finding and preventive recommendations from the Red Book.’
Currently there are an estimated 440,481 stroke survivors in Australia, made up of 244,756 males and 195,725 females.
Using the data on stroke incidences and expected population growth, the report estimates the number of stroke events will increase to almost 55,000 first-ever strokes and 17,000 recurrent strokes per year by 2050.
Stroke Foundation CEO Dr Lisa Murphy said the report shows there is ‘no time to waste’.
‘This projection is a worrying reality if we do not address the rising tide of modifiable stroke risk factors and improve stroke prevention for all Australians,’ she said.
‘The good news is, if we act now, we can ensure more Australians have better control of their blood pressure and other risk factors.’
Modifiable risk factors for stroke include hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity and being overweight.
While one in three Australian adults (6.8 million people) have hypertension – which is the number one risk factor for stroke – half (3.4 million) are unaware they have it.
Professor Morgan said for GPs, there are important roles to help reduce the impacts of stroke.
‘GPs can train their staff to appreciate the urgency of a “brain attack” to reduce delays in assessment and treatment,’ he said.
‘Practice Incentive Program data suggests only half of regular patients in the eligible population, now 45–79-year-olds, have recorded risk factors of diabetes status, smoking status, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
‘Computer decision support programs can identify people at high risk who would benefit from increased preventive treatments and monitoring.’
Professor Morgan added that GPs can also help to arrange ongoing rehabilitation and reducing risk factors in people who have already had a stroke.
Economic impacts are often ‘incurred well into the future’ due to the long-term effects of stroke, the report states, with these costs worn by the person who has the stroke, their carers, and the Government.
Lifetime costs for strokes that occurred in 2023 exceed $15 billion, with costs in the first year after stroke more than $7.7 billion.
Healthcare costs to government sit at $5.5 billion, costs related to unpaid care at $3.3 billion, and lost productivity costs $6.3 billion, which include in the workplace and at home, as well as the delivery of ‘informal care’.
The cost of stroke to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is more than $1.3 billion, or $143,000 per survivor of stroke, per year.
For strokes that occurred in 2023, healthcare costs included ambulance rides, short- and long-term hospital stays, and post-discharge from hospital, including medication, GP visits and other specialist services such as pathology, allied health and aged care.
However, the report highlights the potential cost savings that would come from initiatives to prevent stroke and ensure better recovery outcomes, including:
Primary care chronic disease management plans have also
been shown to improve long-term recovery and survival of people who have a stroke.
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