Burden of Stroke in Singapore

Stroke is Singapore's fourth leading cause of death, with a crude death rate of 40·4/100 000 in 2006, a prevalence of 3·65% and an incidence of 1·8/1000, and is among the top 10 causes of hospitalization. Approximately one-quarter of strokes are hemorrhagic. Hospital care for acute stroke costs about US$5000. Subsidized healthcare is widely available for primary level and hospital care, as are rehabilitative services. A national stroke support group has been established. With our rapidly aging population, coupled with the high prevalence of stroke risk factors in the community, the burden of stroke is expected to increase dramatically in the years to come, posing challenges to the healthcare system and society. A national disease management plan incorporating high-quality clinical care coupled with research would be essential.

[1]  K. Wong,et al.  Low-molecular-weight heparin compared with aspirin for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke in Asian patients with large artery occlusive disease: a randomised study , 2007, The Lancet Neurology.

[2]  N. Venketasubramanian,et al.  Prevalence of Stroke Among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporeans: A Community-Based Tri-Racial Cross-Sectional Survey , 2005, Stroke.

[3]  K. Hughes,et al.  Incidence of ischaemic heart disease and stroke in Chinese, Malays and Indians in Singapore: Singapore Cardiovascular Cohort Study. , 2000, Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

[4]  C. Tan.  National disease management plans for key chronic non-communicable diseases in Singapore. , 2002, Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.

[5]  Alan D. Lopez,et al.  Global mortality, disability, and the contribution of risk factors: Global Burden of Disease Study , 1997, The Lancet.

[6]  N. Venketasubramanian.  Trends in cerebrovascular disease mortality in Singapore: 1970-1994. , 1998, International journal of epidemiology.

[7]  T. Burke,et al.  The Epidemiology of Stroke in the East Asian Region: A Literature-Based Review , 2006, International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society.

[8]  N Venketasubramanian.  Stroke in Singapore--an overview. , 1999, Singapore medical journal.

[9]  Y. Shinohara,et al.  Detection of prothrombotic state in ischemic stroke by monitoring plasma molecular markers. , 1994, Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association.

[10]  D. D. De Silva,et al.  South Asian Patients With Ischemic Stroke: Intracranial Large Arteries Are the Predominant Site of Disease , 2007, Stroke.

[11]  G. Tietjen,et al.  A review of neurological sequelae and cognitive deficits associated with antiphospholipid antibodies. , 1996, Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association.

[12]  D. D. De Silva,et al.  Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease: Differences between Ethnic South Asian and Ethnic Chinese Patients , 2005, Cerebrovascular Diseases.

[13]  N. Venketasubramanian,et al.  Hospital Costs for Stroke Care in Singapore , 2000, Cerebrovascular Diseases.

[14]  Caroline Leigh Watkins.  The International Stroke Trial (IST): a randomised trial of aspirin, subcutaneous heparin, both, or neither among 19 435 patients with acute ischaemic stroke , 1997 .

[15]  I. Ford,et al.  Magnesium for acute stroke (Intravenous Magnesium Efficacy in Stroke trial): randomised controlled trial , 2004, The Lancet.

[16]  A. Algra,et al.  Aspirin plus dipyridamole versus aspirin alone after cerebral ischaemia of arterial origin (ESPRIT): randomised controlled trial , 2006, The Lancet.

[17]  T. Ng,et al.  Low prevalence of atrial fibrillation in community-dwelling Chinese aged 55 years or older in Singapore: a population-based study. , 2008, Journal of electrocardiology.