Half of Northern Ireland residents unaware that stroke is one of the biggest killers in the UK, according to Stroke Association study

More than half of the NI public don’t know that stroke is the fourth biggest killer in the UK, according to new research by the Stroke Association¹. The charity has released the survey findings as it calls for vital support to fund more research into the devastating condition.

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. The charity’s latest study asked the general public to rank health conditions in order of the leading causes of death. 51% of people who ranked stroke placed it below its actual position as the fourth biggest killer².

The research also revealed that almost a fifth of people (18%) underestimate the impact of stroke, believing that stroke ranks lower than its actual position as the fifth leading cause of disability (and death combined) in the UK³. In fact, two thirds of people who survive a stroke find themselves living with a disability.

There are 1.3 million stroke survivors living in the UK, that’s over 39,000 in Northern Ireland, with over 50% of all stroke survivors dependent on others for everyday activities. However, the Stroke Association’s survey also found that people don’t understand the true long term damage a stroke can cause:

• More than two-thirds (67%) of people are unaware that fatigue is a common hidden effect of stroke
• More than two thirds (67%) don’t realise that stroke can cause depression and anxiety
• Around a third of people (32%) don’t know that communication difficulties are common after stroke
• Almost three quarters of people (74%) don’t know that stroke can affect hearing
• Two thirds (66%) are unaware that stroke survivors can experience vision problems

Despite the devastating impact of stroke, stroke research is chronically underfunded and receives far less funding than other health conditions that have similar life-long effects. In the UK far less is spent per survivor on research into stroke than research into any other health condition.

Data shows that annually, only 1.2% of research budgets (approx. £30m) are spent on stroke, compared with 14.8% (approx. £400m) on cancer⁴, while there are 1.3m people living with the effects of stroke in the UK and 2.5m living with cancer. However, the survey reveals many believe more research funding is spent on stroke than other conditions including prostate cancer, dementia and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

The study also found that almost half of people (46%) think that the number of deaths from stroke has increased in the last 10 years. However, despite stroke being the UK’s fourth biggest killer, the rate of deaths has actually decreased by more than half in the last three decades thanks in part to lifesaving research⁵, demonstrating the crucial need for continued investment in stroke research.

Dr Niamh Kennedy, lecturer of Psychology at Ulster University, said: “Over the last four years I have conducted research talking to hundreds of stroke survivors, their families and healthcare professionals working in stroke across Northern Ireland. From this it can be seen that although aspects of our hospital care is considered to be very good, there is a great need for better long-term support after stroke. Stroke survivors report feeling abandoned when they leave hospital, with families left to deal with the lifelong effects of stroke without adequate support or treatment. We need to adequately fund stroke research to help us to save lives, reduce disability and provide the best long-term support after stroke.

“Stroke research can not only help us reduce the number of strokes and help prevent disability after a stroke, but can also help us understand how best to support the over 39,000 stroke survivors in Northern Ireland.

“Stroke research has led to recent medical developments that have had a real life impact on individuals, including reducing the impairments following stroke, enhancing recovery using evidence-based rehabilitation and improving the quality of life of stroke survivors. Stroke is one of the most common health conditions, yet receives a disproportionately small amount of research funding. This lack of funding is preventing further innovation and improvement in stroke care. This investment is particularly important in stroke as the number of people having strokes is projected to increase over the next 20 years, meaning the impact of stroke on the individual, the family and society is growing.”

Paul Mclean lives in Magheralin Co. Down and is now 46. Paul had a stroke one Saturday morning in June 2016 while he was at home with his wife Suzanne. Paul was treated using a revolutionary procedure known as a thrombectomy - which involves inserting a small tool into the brain to remove the blood clot causing the stroke.

Paul remembers the morning it happened: “I suddenly noticed that I couldn’t move my right hand. I was trying to show Suzanne something but couldn’t lift my hand to point. I tried to speak but she was just staring back at me blankly. I didn’t realise that my face had drooped and my speech was slurred. In my head I was speaking perfectly clearly but she couldn’t understand. Suzanne did the FAST test and rang an ambulance.

“I am so grateful to the ambulance team for blue-lighting me straight to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Thankfully I was eligible for a thrombectomy which saved my life.”

The doctor advised Paul’s wife Suzanne there was probably about a 10 percent chance Paul would survive the surgery. But within three hours the Consultant returned with the good news that the clot had been removed at the first attempt!

The main side effects of Paul’s stroke are extreme fatigue and aphasia, difficulties with communication. Paul continues: “At first I couldn’t really speak at all. I had a few words and could say my name but that was about it. It was really scary. It was all very confusing and my brain wasn’t able to function properly. It took me a long time to process what had happened. Back at the start the thought of not being able to chat to my wife or friends again was terrifying. Slowly but surely more words came back but it’s taken a long time and I’m still relearning some words and phrases. I’ve had to teach myself how to read again by listening to audio books and reading along. In those early days the Stroke Association’s Communication Plus speech and language therapy group really helped me get my confidence back.

“Thanks to stroke research, that day thrombectomy saved my life. I know from my experience, it’s vital that thrombectomy is available all the time for anyone who needs it. Since becoming a dad to our son Lorcan, I honestly believe it’s helped my stroke recovery. He’s nearly two and a half now and he just doesn’t stop. He’s always getting me to find new words - new ways to explain things and that’s really helped my own speech. I’ve definitely come out of my shell a little bit more too. He’s just a wee star.”

Alasdair O’Hara, Associate Director at the Stroke Association in Northern Ireland, said: “Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and while it changes lives in an instant, the brain can adapt and rebuild after stroke. That’s why research means everything to the over 39,000 stroke survivors in Northern Ireland and their families, because of the life-changing impact it could have on their future. Our pioneering research has been at the centre of major breakthroughs that have saved lives and sparked innovation in stroke care and treatment. From laying the foundations for the Act FAST campaign, to funding early research into the emergency stroke treatment thrombectomy (the manual removal of stroke-causing blood clots), many patients have been spared the most devastating effects of stroke as a result of our research.

“Despite stroke still being the fourth biggest killer in the UK, research has helped to more than halve the rate of deaths from stroke over the last three decades. It’s absolutely crucial that we continue this progress, but we can’t do this without vital funding. Far less is spent ‘per survivor’ on research into stroke than on research into any other health condition. We would never want to take researchers or money away from other conditions such as cancer, but we do want to replicate the success that cancer research has had, so that we can continue to make breakthroughs in stroke treatment and care.

“Now our focus is on improving life, after stroke strikes. The Stroke Association is the only organisation dedicated to funding research into ongoing rehabilitation for stroke survivors. Our research means everything to stroke survivors like Paul and their families. It gives hope for a better recovery, living more independently, a future. We’re calling on people to donate where they can to support our research and help give stroke survivors and their families the progress they deserve.”

Donate to help fund the research that could mean everything to stroke survivors and their loved ones. Funds raised will go towards vital services for stroke survivors across the UK, including support and pioneering research. Visit www.stroke.org.uk/supportresearch

ENDS