According to a new study published in the journal Age and Ageing, the costs associated with stroke care in the UK are expected to increase rapidly over the next two decades unless appropriate measures are implemented.
Researchers built a simulation model to project the future incidence, prevalence and costs associated with stroke in the UK.
The incidence of stroke in the UK is projected to increase by 59 per cent between 2015 and 2035. Furthermore, the prevalence of stroke is projected to increase by 123 per cent over the 20-year period. Considering the current patterns of stroke care, the societal cost is expected to increase three-fold in constant prices over the period. The total social care costs (public + private) are projected to have the highest increase of 273 per cent. Health care costs, unpaid care costs and lost productivity costs are projected to increase by 201 per cent, 171 per cent and 136 per cent, respectively.
The authors commented: "Effective measures to prevent strokes and treatments to reduce the disabling effects of stroke have the potential to reduce future health, well-being and cost impacts of stroke. These would include thrombectomy for a larger proportion of people experiencing a stroke."
