JEDDAH, 16 July 2004 — Nine hundred people die every year in Saudi Arabia from strokes, 15 percent of them soon after the attack. As the Kingdom’s population continues to age, the number of cases is also going to grow, experts warn.
“In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of first-time strokes has been calculated at about 30 people for every 100,000 citizens per year — approximately 6,000 strokes — which is much less than in Western countries. The low number is because most strokes occur in the elderly and well over half of the current population in Saudi Arabia is still below the age of 18,” said Dr. Fahmi Al-Senani, MD Consultant Neurologist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center-Riyadh.
He explained that a high incidence of hypertension that is either uncontrolled or insufficiently controlled, a high incidence of smoking, diabetes and obesity are the main causes of strokes here. “In Saudi Arabia approximately fifteen percent of patients will die within one month of their stroke. The age of onset for stroke victims varies but it is most common in their 50s and 60s. The risk of having a stroke increases with age, but we have also seen strokes in children,” he said.
According to the latest studies, Dr. Al-Senani noted that men are more likely to have stroke. “In a study, 67 percent of stroke patients were male. There seems to be a protective effect of female hormones,” he said.
Strokes are a major killer worldwide, affecting approximately 20 percent of all individuals above 65. It is the second leading cause of death in the world and more importantly, a leading cause of disability and distress, affecting not only the patient, but the immediate family, community and the health care system in general. In the United States, stroke cases will cost the country over $53.6 billion in 2004.
He pointed out that there are two types of stroke, ischemic and hemorrhagic. “Aspirin is the oldest and most commonly prescribed medication in this class. It has been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Plavix is a newer antiplatelet that has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease,” he said.
“Prevention is better than cure. Every healthy individual should see his physician once a year, to measure his blood pressure and glucose. All individuals should maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating sensibly, exercising daily, and not smoking. Blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol should be treated aggressively,” Dr. Al-Senani said.
