Stroke risk linked to healthcare investment

People living in countries that spend proportionally less on healthcare are approximately 30 per cent more likely to have a stroke, according to a recent study.

Researchers have shown that those living in a poorer country are more likely to die within 30 days of a stroke, have a stroke at a younger age or have a hemorrhagic stroke because there are not enough resources to prevent and manage stroke risk factors.

Dr Gustabo Saposnik, senior author of the study, stated: "The results show there is a high association between the wealth of a country, the portion of their GDP put into healthcare and outcomes for stroke patients.

"If you can reduce the risk factors [that contribute to a stroke], you can reduce the risk of stroke."

Previous research has demonstrated that people living in disadvantaged communities are twice as likely to have a stroke.

After analysing stroke vulnerability in New York it was found that living in an area with a greater than average proportion of the poor increased a person's chances of having a stroke, because of limited access to critical resources.

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