Stroke victim numbers to soar by 59 per cent over next two decades

The number of stroke victims in the UK will soar by 59 per cent in the next 20 years, new research suggests.

Experts have warned that action must be taken to prevent the country from ‘sleepwalking into a stroke crisis’.

High blood pressure and the fact people are living longer are factors fuelling the rise, which could increase the number of stroke victims by two million, according to a study by the Stroke Association.

First-time strokes among people aged 45 and over in the UK will rise by 59 per cent over 20 years, with the main rise expected to be among people aged 85 and over.

At the same time, more people aged 45 and over will survive a stroke, with a 123 per cent rise over 20 years.

Around a third of these sufferers will be left disabled, with 700,000 of these left with long-term disabilities, according to the report.

It also found the yearly cost of stroke to the NHS will also treble, from £3.4 billion in 2015 to £10.2 billion in 2035.

The Stroke Association is now calling for a £10 million investment into research to prevent strokes, saying it could prevent 114,000 people from having a stroke by 2035.

Dominic Brand, director of external affairs at the charity, said: “It’s clear that we need to act now to prevent the UK from sleepwalking towards a stroke crisis.The fact is that most strokes are preventable but there’s still a lot we don’t know. This report highlights some of the key areas that desperately need investment.

“Stroke causes a greater range of disabilities than any other condition, but research into stroke remains under-funded.

“We urgently need to find effective ways to prevent the devastation that haemorrhagic stroke can bring, as well preventing and managing conditions with a higher risk of stroke, such as AF and high blood pressure.”