Stroke patients in South Korea exhibit significantly higher rates of diabetes and smoking, key risk factors for strokes, compared to those in Western countries, according to a report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s National Institute of Health (KDCA). This finding underscores a critical need to enhance preventive measures to improve public health outcomes related to stroke.
The analysis, which assessed stroke treatment patterns in South Korea for 2021, revealed that 35 percent of stroke patients in the country had a history of diabetes. By comparison, the prevalence of diabetes among stroke patients ranged from 23 to 28 percent in Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Japan, with the U.S. reporting a similar rate to Korea at 36 percent.
Smoking rates among Korean stroke patients were also notably high, with 21 percent identified as smokers, compared to 19 percent in the U.S. and 13 percent in Sweden. The KDCA’s study drew data from 17 participating medical institutions in Korea’s stroke cohort, with the report released in alignment with World Stroke Day on October 29, an observance aimed at raising awareness about stroke prevention and the importance of immediate access to emergency care.
The data also highlighted demographic differences in stroke incidence, with 59.8 percent of stroke patients being men. Women tended to experience strokes later in life, with the average age of female patients being 73 compared to 67 for men.
Despite awareness of these risk factors, the KDCA noted stagnant progress in stroke treatment rates. Vascular recanalization treatment—aimed at restoring blood flow—showed no significant improvement in recent years. Additionally, the rate of administering reperfusion therapy within 90 minutes of stroke onset decreased from 35.4 percent between 2017 and 2019 to 30.7 percent in 2021, indicating a decline in timely treatment.
KDCA Chief Jee Young-mee emphasized the critical need for early detection and prompt treatment, describing stroke as a “very serious disease” requiring urgent medical attention. “Through World Stroke Day, we aim to heighten awareness and encourage the public to understand the importance of recognizing, diagnosing, and preventing stroke,” Jee stated.
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