LAUSR

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability in the world. During the past several decades, the burden of stroke in the world has shifted from developed to developing countries. Now, 75% of all stroke deaths and 81% of the total disability-adjusted life years lost because of stroke occur in developing countries. This shift in the burden from the developed to developing countries is thought to be driven by the aging of population, population growth, and changing patterns of diseases because of changes in risk factors and differences in socioeconomic status and health care. Stroke, therefore, has emerged as a major public health priority in developing countries.