This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Cerebrovascular accident

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Stroke is defined by the World Health Organization as a clinical syndrome consisting of 'rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (at times global) disturbance of cerebral function, lasting more than 24 h or leading to death with no apparent cause other than that of vascular origin' (1).

  • a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is defined as stroke symptoms and signs that resolve within 24 hours

  • strokes result from:
    • cerebral infarction (84%):
      • secondary to thrombosis (53%); or
      • embolus (31%)
    • primary intracerebral haemorrhage (10%)
    • subarachnoid haemorrhage (6%)

  • a non-disabling stroke is defined as a stroke with symptoms that last for more than 24 hours but later resolve, leaving no permanent disability

  • symptoms experienced depend on the part of the brain that is affected
    • usually occur suddenly and without any warning
    • common symptoms include loss of movement or sensation in an arm or leg, problems speaking, a drooping of one side of the face or problems with vision

  • a stroke can occur at any age
    • average age for stroke varies across the UK, with a median age of 77 years (interquartile range 67 to 85)
    • a quarter of strokes occur in people of working age

  • first-ever stroke affects 230 people per 100,000 each year, with over 80,000 people hospitalised per year in England

  • the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme show that 13.6% of people admitted to hospital with stroke in England and Wales died (either in hospital or after being discharged from inpatient care) within 30 days
    • are approximately 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK

  • risk of recurrent stroke is 26% within 5 years of a first stroke and 39% by 10 years

Notes:

  • there are limitations to these definitions of stroke and TIA outlined
    • for example, they do not include retinal symptoms (sudden onset of monocular visual loss), which should be considered as part of the definition of stroke and TIA. The symptoms of a TIA usually resolve within minutes or a few hours at most, and anyone with continuing neurological signs when first assessed should be assumed to have had a stroke
    • definition of stroke excludes transient ischaemic attacks, subdural haematomas, and infarction or haemorrhage due to infection or tumour. However, practically it is often difficult to discriminate between a small stroke and a transient ischaemic attack
    • the term 'brain attack' is sometimes used to describe any neurovascular event and may be a clearer and less ambiguous term to use

Reference:

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.