The burden of stroke in Africa

The burden of stroke in Africa is rising.^1,2 This systematic review analysed literature from the PubMed and AJOL (African Journals Online) databases, aiming to study the burden of stroke in Africa.¹ In total, 154 publications were synthesised, covering a period between the 1960s to the 2010s.¹ The review found that the rates of stroke in Africa had risen in the time studied, in contrast to the decline seen in many developed countries.¹ Interestingly, the review found that stroke occurred in younger people in Africa than the rest of the world – on average aged 57 compared with 66 years old.¹ However, the reasons behind this difference may be genetic, environmental, or demographic (the average age is lower in Africa than many other places in the world).¹

References:

1. Owolabi MO, Akarolo-Anthony S, Akinyemi R, et al.; Members of the H3Africa Consortium. The burden of stroke in Africa: a glance at the present and a glimpse into the future. Cardiovasc J Afr 2015; 26 (2 Suppl. 1): S27–S38.

2. Akinyemi RO, Ovbiagele B, Adeniji OA, et al. Stroke in Africa: profile, progress, prospects and priorities. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17 (10): 634–656.