Stroke in Asia
Kay Sin Tan, Jeyaraj Pandian, Liping Liu, Ḱazunori Toyoda, Thomas Wai Hon Leung, Shinichiro Uchiyama, Sathoshi Kuroda, Nijasri C. Suwanwela, Sanjith Aaron, Hui Meng Chang, Narayanaswamy Venketasubramanian
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is a significant burden of stroke in Asia. Asia has the largest population in the world in 2023, estimated at 4.7 billion. Approximately 9.5-10.6 million strokes will be anticipated annually in the backdrop of a diverse group of well-developed and less developed countries with large disparities in stroke care resources. In addition, Asian countries are in varying phases of epidemiological transition. SUMMARY: In this review, we examined recent epidemiological features of ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage in Asia with recent developments in hyperacute stroke reperfusion therapy and technical improvements in intracerebral haemorrhage. The article also discussed the spectrum of cerebrovascular diseases in Asia, which include intracranial atherosclerosis, intracerebral haemorrhage, infective aetiologies of stroke, moyamoya disease, vascular dissection, radiation vasculopathy, and cerebral venous thrombosis. KEY MESSAGES: The review of selected literature and recent updates calls for attention to the different requirements for resources within Asia and highlights the breadth of cerebrovascular diseases still requiring further research and more effective therapies.