Stroke: key points

Stroke is a common type of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) that predominantly affects older people.  

Incidence

• Cerebrovascular disease develops as a result of problems with the blood vessels supplying the brain.
• Risk factors for stroke include: high blood pressure; high blood cholesterol; poor diet; obesity; smoking; physical inactivity; alcohol consumption above recommended limits; diabetes.
• The age and sex adjusted incidence rate for stroke increased by 9% from 262 cases per 100,000 population in 2014/15 to 239 per 100,000 in 2023/24
• Incidence is closely related to age. The standardised rate for under 75s in 2023/24 was 90 per 100,000 population and for those aged 75 and over for the same period it was 1,029 per 100,000 population.

Mortality

The age and sex adjusted mortality rate for CVD decreased by 20% in the last ten years from 87 per 100,000 population in 2014 to 70 per 100,000 population in 2023.

Standardised rates

• Please note incidence and mortality rates are standardised using the 2013 European standard population. For more information, see Appendix A1 of PHS's Stroke Statistics Update.