Death Rates From Stroke in Australia Falling

While death rates from stroke in Australia fell by 70 per cent between 1979 and 2010, the total number of strokes rose by approximately six per cent over the same period.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report, Stroke and its management in Australia: an update, shows there were 8,300 deaths from stroke in 2010. This represents six per cent of all deaths, or about 23 deaths a day.
“Despite the higher total number of strokes, the rates of stroke across the population fell-by an estimated 25 per cent between 1997 and 2009,” AIHW spokesperson Ann Hunt said.
There were more than 35,300 hospitalisations for stroke and 25,800 hospitalisations for rehabilitation care associated with stroke in 2009-10.
“The good news is that more people are surviving a stroke than previously, and disability caused by stroke has fallen, from 45 per cent of cases to 35 per cent,” Ms Hunt said. “There is evidence to suggest that patients admitted to stroke units have better outcomes than other patients, so it is particularly important that patients are admitted to these units where possible”. Between 2007 and 2011, the number of stroke units in public hospitals rose from 54 to 74 and the proportion of patients receiving stroke unit care rose from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. “Currently, 39 per cent of those hospitals required to admit and manage people with acute stroke have a specialised stroke unit. “While this proportion has risen in recent years, it is still low compared to other countries with similar economies to Australia's.”
Informal carers also play an important role in the care and recovery of stroke survivors, with an estimated 75,000 providing assistance to people with stroke and disability in 2009. “More than half of these informal carers spend 40 hours or more each week in their caring role,” Ms Hunt said