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Worldwide, cerebrovascular accidents (stroke) are the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability.1 Stroke, the sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is lost by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain, is also a leading cause of dementia and depression.2 Globally, 70% of strokes and 87% of both stroke-related deaths and disability-adjusted life years occur in low- and middle-income countries.3-5 Over the last four decades, the stroke incidence in low- and middle-income countries has more than doubled. During these decades stroke incidence has declined by 42% in high-income countries.3 On average, stroke occurs 15 years earlier in - and causes more deaths of - people living in low- and middle-income countries, when compared to those in high-income countries.2 Strokes mainly affect individuals at the peak of their productive life. Despite its enormous impact on countries' socio-economic development, this growing crisis has received very little attention to date.
The risk factors for stroke are similar to those for coronary heart disease and other vascular diseases. Effective prevention strategies include targeting the key modifiable factors: hypertension, elevated lipids and diabetes. Risks due to lifestyle factors can also be addressed: smoking, low physical activity levels, unhealthy diet and abdominal obesity.6 Combinations of such prevention strategies have proved effective in reducing stroke mortality even in some low-income settings.7,8
Furthermore, as most guidelines are based on high-income country data, uncertainty remains regarding best management of stroke of unknown type in low- and middle-income countries. For example, in low- and middle-income countries, 34% of strokes (versus 9% in high-income countries) are of haemorrhagic subtype and up to 84% of stroke patients in low- and middle-income countries (versus 16% in high income countries) die...