The types of stroke

Strokes are categorized as either haemorrhagic or ischaemic (sometimes referred to as cerebral infarction).¹ Although prevalence rates vary, roughly 80% of strokes are ischaemic and the remaining 20% are haemorrhagic.^1,2 However, data from low- and middle-income countries have found rates of haemorrhagic stroke to be as high as 34%.¹ Differential diagnosis is performed using clinical assessment and imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans.² Because the treatment of ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes can be quite different, finding the cause of the stroke is a crucial clinical step.²

References:

1. Donkor ES. Stroke in the 21st Century: a snapshot of the burden, epidemiology, and quality of life. Stroke Res Treat 2018; 2018: 3238165.

2. NINDS. Available at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/stroke. Accessed March 2024.