Stroke Epidemiological Data of Nine Asian Countries
ASIAN ACUTE STROKE ADVISORY PANEL (AASAP)*
Affiliation : * AASAP Members : Chairman : Dr. NV Ramani (Singapore), Dr. Lawrence KS Wong (Hong Kong). Prof BS Singhal (India), Dr. D. Arjundas (India), Prof Jusuf Misbach (Indonesia), Dr. SA Ahmad (Indonesia), Prof Sang Bok Lee (Korea), Dato Dr. Mohd Rani Bin Jusoh (Malaysia), Dato Dr. T Selvapragasam (Malaysia). Dr. Ester Bitanga (Philippines), Dr. Simeon Marasigan (Philippines), Dr. Lee Sze Haur (Singapore), Dr. MC Wong (Singapore), Dr. Hou-Chang Chiu (Taiwan), Dr. JS Jeng (Taiwan), Prof Niphon Poungvarin (Thailand).
Objective : To study the existing stroke epidemiology of nine Asian countries.
Method : Stroke epidemiological data of nine Asian countries were collected and updated by the Asian Acute Stroke Advisory Panel (AASAP). The data included demographic information, health care resources and stroke epidemiology of individual countries. Result : Countries with good epidemiological data of stroke are Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore. In these countries strokes rank as the second or third leading causes of death in the population. Malaysia, Thailand, Phillippines and Indonesia are countries with moderate epidemiological data of stroke. The available epidemiological data of stroke in these countries are mainly hospital-based information. Community-based studies are in the planning stage. India is the only country with fair epidemiological data of stroke available. The limita- tions of epidemiological study of stroke in India are due to their huge population size, poor income and limited health care resources.
Conclusion : Combating strokes worldwide will never be truly accomplished unless basic information of developing countries is analysed and understood. The strength and weak- ness of information concerning strokes in developing countries need to be documented before the worldwide implementation of a stroke prevention programme.
Keywords : Stroke, Cerebrovascular Disease, Stroke Epidemiology
