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 2.5% from 176 cases per 100,000 population in 2013/14 to 180 per 100,000 in 2022/23
- Incidence is closely related to age. The standardised rate for under 75s in 2022/23 was 89 per 100,000 and for those aged 75 and over for the same period, it was 1,109.
Mortality
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The age and sex adjusted mortality rate for CVD decreased by 25% in the last ten years from 97 per 100,000 population in 2013 to 73 per 100,000 population in 2022.
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.
Section updates:
- The last major update of this section was completed in March 2024.
- The next major update is due to be carried out by end March 2025.
