title: Past, present, and future of stroke in middle-income countries: the Brazilian experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is one of the major public health challenges in middle-income countries. Brazil is the world's sixth largest economy but was clearly behind the milestones in the fight against stroke, which is the leading cause of death and disability in the country. Nevertheless, many initiatives are now reshaping stroke prevention, care, and rehabilitation in the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present article discusses the evolution of stroke care in Brazil over the last decade.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the main characteristics of stroke care before 2008; a pilot study in a Southern Brazilian city between 2008 and 2010, the Brazilian Stroke Project initiative; and the 2012 National Stroke Policy Act.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The National Stroke Project was followed by a major increased on the number of stroke center in the country. The key elements of the 2012 National Stroke Policy Act included: definition of the requirements and levels of stroke centers; improved reimbursement for stroke care; promotion of stroke telemedicine; definition of the Line of Stroke Care (to integrate available resources and other health programs); increased funding for stroke rehabilitation; funding for training of healthcare professionals and initiatives to increase awareness about stroke within the population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evolution of stroke care in Brazil over the last decade is a pathway that exemplifies the challenges that middle-income countries have to face in order to improve stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. The reported Brazilian experience can be extrapolated to understand the past, present, and future of stroke care in middle-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sheila Cristina Ouriques
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Octávio Marques
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Pontes-Neto
authors.forename: Cloer Vescia
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Gabriel Rodriguez
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Jamary Oliveira
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.forename: Elza Dias
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Tosta
authors.forename: Norberto Luiz
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Cabral
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D001938:Brazil; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012042:Registries; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends
keywords: middle-income country; organized stroke care; stroke; stroke management; stroke systems; stroke unit