A stroke occurs every five minutes in Canada, a number that is on the rise, according to a new study released Tuesday.
There are 108,707 cases in the country, according to the annual count from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The Heart & Stroke-funded study that looked at hospital and emergency room visits highlights the need for strong systems of care and the need for better prevention.
“Our study has provided us with the most comprehensive picture of hospital and emergency room visits for stroke in the country,” said Jessalyn Holodinsky, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary and lead author. of the study.
According to the authors of the research, although a stroke can occur in anyone, older or younger, age is a risk factor for stroke due to the aging of the population.
Strokes are becoming less deadly, leading to the number of people living with the effects of stroke rising to 878,000 nationwide, half of whom need help from their activities daily.
“This new information will help us guide health systems planning,” said Dr. Michael Hill, senior medical director of the Cardiovascular Health and Stroke Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services, and lead author of the study.
“As the number of strokes continues to rise, emergency medical services and hospitals need to be ready to meet the demand, to ensure that patients receive the right care in a timely manner and achieve the best possible outcomes. “, he added.