title: Is stroke incidence in low- to middle-income countries driven by economics?
abstract: The incidence of stroke in low- to middle-income countries now exceeds that in high-income countries. These low- to middle-income countries also have greater case fatality and a younger age of stroke onset, factors that contribute to a high stroke burden. Macroeconomic indicators of socioeconomic status, such as health expenditure, appear to be inversely associated with stroke incidence. However, there are often large socioeconomic gradients between regions such as between urban and rural regions. This article emphasizes that macroeconomic indicators are likely to mask regional disparities in stroke incidence. Public health messages and prevention strategies must therefore be targeted regionally rather than nationwide. Without a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to prevention, the epidemic of stroke will continue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. amanda.thrift@monash.edu
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Thrift
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arabshahi
mesh_terms: D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007182:Income; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*