Though the number of Canadians surviving stroke is increasing, the number of people with long-term disability from stroke is increasing as well and according to a new study the number of people with such disability will increase by up to 80 per cent in the next two decades.
According to the study published in medical journal Stroke, at least 405,000 Canadians were living with long-term stroke disability in Canada in 2013, a number that’s 30-per-cent higher than the commonly used estimate.
The study provides an updated estimate of the scope of long-term stroke disability and includes, for the first time, children under the age of 12 and people living in institutions. The report states that previous estimates were out-of-date and incomplete, making it difficult for agencies to plan for services and treatment. Accurate data are also required to monitor improvements in treatment and prevention.
“The number of people living with long-term stroke disability will rise to between 654,000 and 726,000 by 2038,” says lead author Dr. Hans Krueger, a Vancouver-based health economist and adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia.
The report notes that the largest projected increase is in the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) where there will be as many as 132,000 people living with stroke disability by 2038, representing an increase of as much as 128 per cent from 2013 levels.
“These findings highlight the critical need for research to find and test innovative solutions to improve recovery for the hundreds of thousands of Canadians living with stroke disability,” says Dr. Dale Corbett, Scientific Director and CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery.
“The good news is that we are creating more survivors, thanks to tremendous progress in stroke care,” says David Sculthorpe, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation. “But we need to do even more to keep up with the growing threat of stroke including raising awareness of the signs of stroke and improving prevention and care.”
“The increasing prevalence of stroke in Ontario means that we need smart investments in rehabilitation and recovery services across the province to ensure people regain their lives,” said Ontario Stroke Network Executive Director Chris O’Callaghan. “With our partners, we are working hard to improve access to post-stroke rehabilitation services in hospitals, outpatient clinics and the community.”
Eighty-three per cent of people survive a stroke and the effects range from mild to severe disability. Recovery can take months or even years and many people never fully recover. About 36 per cent of stroke survivors are left with significant disabilities after five years and more than 40 per cent require help with the activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc)
Still, the study under-estimates the complete scope of stroke recovery in Canada because it only includes people who have been diagnosed with physical or cognitive impairments lasting at least six months. It does not include individuals with a mild stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack), nor does it capture people living with dementia commonly caused by undiagnosed stroke.
