Global stroke epidemic kills millions of young

MILLIONS of young and middle aged people around the world are suffering strokes because of unhealthy lifestyles, a study claims.

Rising obesity and diabetes rates coupled with lack of exercise have led to the number of strokes afflicting people aged between 20 and 64 rising by a quarter in just 20 years – a global “stroke epidemic”.

Strokes suffered by the young now make up 31 per cent of the world total, compared with 25 per cent before 1990. Even among those aged 20 and under, the researchers found that there are more than 83,000 victims each year.

Around 152,000 strokes occur in Britain a year, costing the NHS an estimated £ 3.7billion.

The findings, which are part of a systematic analysis of data on major diseases and causes of ill health in 50 countries, are published in the latest issue of The Lancet.

They showed a reduction in stroke death rates in the UK but a Briton is still more likely to die from stroke than someone living in France, Germany or the US.

The results also reveal stark differences between rich and poor countries, with 42 per cent more deaths between 1990 and 2010 in less well- off nations.

In high- income countries, stroke rates fell by 12 per cent over the two decades. Lead researcher Professor Valery Feigin, of AUT University in Auckland, New Zealand, said: “The worldwide stroke burden is growing very fast and there is now an urgent need for culturally acceptable and affordable stroke prevention, management and rehabilitation strategies to be developed and implemented worldwide.”

UK Stroke Association chief executive Jon Barrick described the research as a “wake- up call to governments across the globe”.