NHS England » Stroke hospital admissions up 28% since 2004 as NHS urges public to ‘Take Rapid Action’

New NHS analysis has revealed that the number of people hospitalized after a stroke has increased by 28% in the last 20 years.

NHS England data shows stroke admissions are rising in England from 87,069 in 2004/05 to 111,137 in 2023/24, partly due to the impact of an aging population and lifestyle factors on the country’s cardiovascular health.

There has also been a 55% increase in admissions among people aged 50-59 (12,533 in 2023/24 compared to 8,063 in 2004/05), the highest increase among all age groups. This compares with a 42% increase for those aged 60-69 and a 25% increase for those aged 70-79.

The figures come after the NHS launched a major campaign urging anyone experiencing any of the 3 most common stroke symptoms, including difficulty smiling, to call 999 immediately (FAce) or raise your arm (A.rms) or slurring his words (S.pee).

England’s top doctor said figures showed strokes were “not just a risk for older people” and it was vital everyone was aware of the symptoms to look out for and knew how to call 999 quickly.

Experts say the increase in applications among 50-59 year olds may be related to a number of factors, including better detection and reporting, hypertension, obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise.

The new NHS ‘Act Quick’ campaign launched this week with an ad showing 3 symptoms: A man noticing his partner trying to smile while watching TV, a decorator suddenly unable to lift the paint roller and a grandmother struggling to read her grandson a bedtime story – UK until mid-December It will be broadcast on TV, on-demand TV and radio.

As part of the campaign launch, a powerful new film was also released in which stroke survivors listen to audio recordings of the real 999 calls that saved their lives.

One of them, 59-year-old Pete from Bristol, noticed that he had difficulty lifting his right arm to brush his teeth and eat his cereal on his way to work one morning and dropped his phone.

When he realized he couldn’t go up the stairs, he called out to his wife, Tracey. He immediately called 999 because his speech was slurred and could not be understood.

Pete was blue-lighted to the hospital, where doctors told him he had a stroke. He remained in the hospital for 6 days with daily physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational health checks before being discharged to continue his treatment at home.

The rehab process was intense, but Pete was determined to return to his job as an insurance adjuster. Three months after his stroke, Pete returned to work part-time and has been increasing his hours ever since.

Pete said: “The symptoms may not seem like much, but spotting the first signs early saved my life when I had a stroke one morning before work.

“After struggling to lift my arm to brush my teeth and slurring my speech, a quick dial of 999 from my wife Tracey meant I got the urgent care I needed. Thanks to him and the prompt treatment I received, I am now back to work and feeling positive about my recovery.”

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is cut off. A stroke, if not treated in a timely manner, can result in death or long-term disabilities such as paralysis, memory loss, and communication problems.

With 38,000 deaths from stroke each year, it is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK; but thanks to improvements in NHS care, more people than ever are surviving.

Stroke can happen to anyone at any age, but those at increased risk include people over 50, people of Black or South Asian descent, or people living with existing conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or sickle cell disease.

NHS National Stroke Clinical Director and Consultant Stroke Doctor Dr. David Hargroves said: “The significant increase in strokes across all age groups is worrying and highlights the importance of our new NHS campaign to warn the public that the first sign of a stroke may not be as visible on the face, arm or speech. The first sign is that it is time to call 999.”

“More people are now recovering from stroke thanks to increased awareness of the symptoms and advances in NHS care, but there is more to help save lives and reduce its long-term effects. It’s vital to act FAST, whether it’s a friend, loved one or even a passerby.” Whether it’s someone, a quick dial to 999 saves lives.”

NHS National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “The increase in admissions among people in their fifties makes it clear that although strokes are more common in the over-70s, they are not just a risk for older people, and everyone should be aware of the symptoms to look out for and know to call 999 quickly.

“There are likely to be a number of reasons behind this alarming increase, but we know that lifestyle, particularly obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise, are among the common factors that can increase the risk of stroke and have a significant impact on cardiovascular health.” For working-age people in their fifties and sixties.

“Not only is stroke one of the biggest killers in England, but it can also lead to life-changing effects for many other families; greater awareness of the need to act quickly and call 999 will help other NHS staff to support people to take control of the disease.” as well as interventions.” Their cardiovascular health could help save and protect many more lives.”

Over the last few years, NHS teams have introduced innovative new ways to find and treat more people with key risk factors for cardiovascular health problems, including rolling out blood pressure checks and blood pressure releases for people over 40 in high street pharmacies. Monitors are being provided to 220,000 people at high risk, and blood-thinning medications are being rapidly rolled out to help save thousands of lives.

Juliet Bouverie OBE, Chief Executive of the Stroke Association, said: “These new figures support our research that there has been a huge increase in the number of people affected by stroke over the last 20 years, particularly among working age people. The Stroke Association helps people with life after stroke and these increases mean our specialist teams are needed now more than ever.” It shows that you are heard.

“Approximately 90,000 people recover from stroke each year in the UK; This situation suddenly changes their lives and affects their ability to live well physically and mentally. Stroke can be catastrophic for those affected, including the survivors’ loved ones; Many people experience speech problems, decreased mobility and memory loss.

“Acting FAST is vital to recovering from stroke to minimize the level of disability a person may experience and help improve their journey to recovery. We therefore continue to encourage anyone who notices any of the 3 common signs of a stroke in a person to call 999 without delay “The faster the stroke is treated, the greater the chance of full recovery.”

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “These figures are shocking and even more shocking given that causes of stroke, such as high blood pressure and poor nutrition, are largely preventable.

“Prevention will always be better than cure. Not only does this mean helping people live well for longer, but also because a healthy workforce supports our mission of growth. That’s why we’ve introduced health checks in workplaces and blood pressure checks on high streets to help catch diseases earlier, and we’re also taking action to prevent strokes in the first place by tackling the biggest killers such as smoking and obesity.

“As part of our 10 Year Health Plan we will deliver the investment and reform needed to turn the NHS around, including shifting the focus of healthcare from treatment to prevention.”

The first symptoms of stroke are:

• Facial weakness – it may be difficult to smile and one side of your face may droop (droop)
• Arm weakness – due to weakness or numbness in one arm, you may not be able to fully lift both arms and keep them there.
• Speech problems – you may slur your words or feel confused

Other symptoms that may be the first sign that you or someone else is having a stroke include:

• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body (including your leg)
• Sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes
• sudden difficulty speaking or thinking of words
• Sudden memory loss or confusion
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falling, especially along with any of the other symptoms

Visitwww.nhs.uk/ActFASTfor more information.