Cost of Stroke

Introduction I n considering thecostof strokeinScotland, a rangeofconceptual and methodological issues must be addressed. Cost of illnessstudiesoftendrawadistinction between directandindirect costs.Directcostscomprisethecostsof strokeprevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and terminal care. However, concentrating solelyon the impactof strokeon healthandsocial services ignores the value of lives lost, personal suffering, the welfare of family and friends and a host of other costs. Many lossesor foregone opportunities due to strokeare indirectin so far as theycan be distinguished from thosecosts directly arising fromthecareand management of stroke. Indirectcostsare often assessed using the monetary value of economic losses arising fromstroke,proxiedby thevalueof lostproduction. Thisnarrow economic measure of indirect cost based on personalearnings loss will fail to encompass manyof the important consequences which are readily apparent to even the most casual observer; namely, the impactof cerebrovascular diseaseonan individual's ability to sustain what would be regarded as a desirable quality of life.