Hong Kong Med J 2014;20(Suppl 3):S24-9
Stroke incidence and mortality trends in Hong Kong: implications for public health education efforts and health resource utilisation
J Woo, SC Ho, W Goggins, PH Chau, SV Lo
Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
1. There has been a decline in age-standardised stroke incidence and case fatality between 1999 and 2007, the latter being less steep.
2. Health promotion efforts, improvement in socio- economic circumstances and hospital treatment may be contributing factors.
3. Although the incidence of stroke has declined, the continually ageing population, the static incidence of recurrent stroke, and the decline in case fatality will result in an increase in the absolute number of people with stroke, particularly among the elderly. Hence, declining incidence may not necessarily translate into a reduced demand for rehabilitation and long-term care services.
4. The higher incidence of stroke in men than women suggests that there is room for improvement in primary prevention in men.
2. Health promotion efforts, improvement in socio- economic circumstances and hospital treatment may be contributing factors.
3. Although the incidence of stroke has declined, the continually ageing population, the static incidence of recurrent stroke, and the decline in case fatality will result in an increase in the absolute number of people with stroke, particularly among the elderly. Hence, declining incidence may not necessarily translate into a reduced demand for rehabilitation and long-term care services.
4. The higher incidence of stroke in men than women suggests that there is room for improvement in primary prevention in men.