Policy Makers and Advocates Appeal for European Governments to Adopt a National Focus on Stroke Prevention

PR55196

BRUSSELS, Dec 3 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ -

Coinciding with the World Health Organization (WHO) European Ministerial

Conference on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases in

Turkmenistan, MEPs, patient and physician representatives are today meeting at

the European Parliament to highlight that urgent national action is required to

prevent stroke.

"Stroke is a growing burden on our healthcare services but more importantly has

a devastating impact on survivors and their families," said MEP Nessa Childers.

"Atrial fibrillation is not a well recognised risk factor for stroke and yet it

causes some of the most debilitating and costly strokes. This is why it is so

important that stroke prevention and the risk factors for stroke are strongly

addressed in EU and national health plans."

Why Action is Needed

15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke each year[1], leaving 5 million

people disabled. In Europe alone, the annual cost of stroke is estimated to be

64 billion Euros[2]. Atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition characterised by an

irregular heartbeat, is a major contributor to this.

AF increases stroke risk by 500%.[3] People who have a stroke caused by AF are

more likely to remain in hospital for longer, less likely to be discharged to

their home and 50% more likely to remain disabled, relying on long-term care

from their families or nursing homes[4], yet the majority of AF-related strokes

are preventable.

"Given the debilitating and costly nature of atrial fibrillation related

strokes, it is vital that EU and national health policy addresses the gaps that

allow patients to go undiagnosed and to receive sub-optimal management," said

MEP Oreste Rossi.

By uniting, MEPs and advocates have shown their support for policies which

deliver better recognition and management of AF and prevention of stroke.

"The Stroke Alliance For Europe, along with over a hundred other organisations

around the world, is working to ensure that stroke prevention and atrial

fibrillation are addressed in national health plans," said SAFE President,

Jelka Jansa. "Over half a million people have already supported our cause and

the Sign Against Stroke Campaign. Together we hope to ensure fewer families

experience the life changing effects of a stroke."

Sign Against Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation

People can learn about AF and stroke and support the Sign Against Stroke

Campaign by visiting SignAgainstStroke.com. All signatures contribute to

driving action to prevent AF-related strokes and putting stroke prevention on

EU and national policy agendas.

Bayer HealthCare has proudly supported the Sign Against Stroke Campaign since

its creation by 39 non-governmental organisations in 2011 and remains committed

to working together with all key stakeholders involved to help improve

AF-related stroke prevention.

References

1. The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke. World Health Organization.

http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/en/cvd_atlas_15_burden_stroke.pdf

Last accessed 28 October 2013.

2. Gustavsson A, Svensson M, Jacobi F et al. Cost of disorders of the brain in

Europe 2010. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2011;21:718-7.

3. Fuster V et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA/HRS focused updates incorporated into the

ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for the management of patients with atrial

fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology

Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines.

Circulation 2011;123(10):e269-367.

4. Lin HJ et al. Stroke severity in atrial fibrillation. The Framingham Study.

Stroke 1996;27(10):1760-4.

L.GB.11.2013.4604

Date of preparation: November 2013

SOURCE: Bayer HealthCare