The Ministry of Health records more than 200,000 stroke cases each year, with the rate four times higher in men than in women, of which 40% die, and high treatment costs create a medical and social burden.
“Vietnam is facing 3 problems related to stroke: high incidence rate, mortality equivalent to cases, and rejuvenation of disease age,” Associate Professor Nguyen Duy Ton, Director of the Stroke Center, Bach Hoa Hospital Mai spoke at the Seminar Innovations in cardiovascular health care and stroke treatmentafternoon of December 5 in Hanoi. This is the 4th discussion session of VinFuture Science and Technology Week 2024.
In fact, the number of stroke patients coming to the Center has increased over the years. In 2023, doctors will receive 13,228 people, an increase of more than 2,000 cases compared to the previous year, about 8% of whom are young people. On average each day, this place receives 50-55 patients, with up to 60 patients on peak days. Earlier this year, Bach Mai Hospital had to expand stroke treatment beds to meet patient needs.
The Ministry of Health reports that every year, about 200,000 people have strokes in Vietnam, with a death rate of about 40%. In particular, the number of young people having strokes is on the rise. Young and middle-aged people account for about 30% of all stroke cases. In hospitals, the average stroke rate in young people increases about 2% each year, with men four times more likely than women.
Associate Professor Nguyen Duy Ton, Director of Stroke Center, Bach Mai Hospital, shared at the discussion. Image: Style Bar
Professor. Valery Feigin, Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), said stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability. People with disabilities or deaths due to stroke have increased by 89% in the past 30 years. In particular, in the last 10 years, the incidence and prevalence of stroke has increased, mainly in low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam. This rate is 4 times higher than New Zealand.
The risk factors for stroke are increasingly diverse, 60% are due to high blood pressure, 20% are due to air pollution, and the rest are due to behavior. Treatment costs are expensive, accounting for 10 billion USD/year worldwide, creating an extremely large economic burden.
And GS. Alta Schutte, University of New South Wales and George Institute for Global Health (Australia), said that 70% of stroke patients are related to blood pressure, so control is extremely important in preventing this disease. . But the number of people who control their blood pressure is very low, only 23% in women and 18% in men. Many people do not know they are sick, and those who are aware of the disease are not treated or controlled effectively.
“Countries that do well only have 64% of patients controlling their blood pressure, while in low- and middle-income countries this rate is much lower,” Professor. Valery Feigin said, adding that in addition to blood pressure, 30-40% of stroke patients have many bad habits in daily life such as eating a lot of salt and smoking. Therefore, the best strategy is to change lifestyle to reduce the incidence of disease.
Experts shared at the discussion. Image: Viet Hung
There are two types of stroke: cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage. Most strokes are related to risk factors, such as hypertension, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, unhealthy lifestyle such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity… Stroke also due to congenital abnormalities such as cerebral vascular malformations that are present from childhood, by the time the aneurysm is large enough to cause rupture. Stroke patients need to be treated as quickly as possible, including diagnosis and emergency treatment, especially thrombolysis in the first 4-5 hours.
At the seminar, experts shared and updated methods and plans in stroke prevention and treatment. Associate Professor Ton believes that there needs to be a stronger plan, focusing on pre-emption and introducing new methods into hospital treatment to achieve the goal of minimizing the burden and improving the stroke situation in Vietnam in the next 5 years. .
“We are proposing to the Ministry of Health to develop a national program on the prevention and management of stroke patients. Three main goals are set: reducing the incidence rate, mortality rate, and mortality rate. disabled,” Mr. Ton said.