A unified European action plan on stroke

摘要

Despite considerable advances across the stroke care pathway—in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation—troke is still the leading cause of neurological disability in almost all regions, including Europe. According to the 2016 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study, there were substantial differences in the burden from stroke across Europe as measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Stroke ranked first among neurological disorders in terms of agestandardised DALYs in central and eastern Europe, and second in western Europe. Not surprisingly, the socioeconomic impact of stroke is high and is increasing over time; its estimated annual cost in the EU was €38 billion in 2012, €45 billion in 2015, and €60 billion in 2017.Thus, stroke care and research must become European priorities.