Nearly 50% of admissions to the SJD Sant Boi Hospital for neurological issues are due to stroke

47.3% of patients admitted to the Neurology Service through the Emergency Department are diagnosed with stroke. In the period between 2021 and 2024, 916 people out of a total of 1,935 admissions to the Sant Joan de Déu Sant Boi Hospital were stroke patients, according to internal data. Stroke, one of the most widespread neurological diseases among Catalans, is also a common problem in the hospital's area of ​​influence, with 81.4% growth in cases between 2021 and 2024.

Specialists from the Hospital's Neurology Service attribute this growth to 'population ageing'. The average age of patients treated for this condition is 75 years, mostly men (54%), who spend an average of 6.7 days in hospital.

Synonyms for stroke include embolism, cerebral haemorrhage, thrombosis and apoplexy. It is a sudden interruption in the flow of blood to the brain produced by the blockage (ischaemic stroke) or rupture (haemorrhagic stroke) of an artery, which leads to the death of cells in a part of the brain. 75% of strokes that occur are of ischaemic origin.

October 29 is World Stroke Day, an event to raise awareness about the key role that prevention plays in this disease, the importance of knowing how to recognise the first symptoms and acting quickly in order to save lives.

Quick action at the first warning signs

In the event of a stroke, every second counts, as quick action can prevent the brain from being seriously or irreversibly damaged. For this reason, the Ministry of Health and hospitals have been sharing the FAST scale with the public for years. This acronym, created to enable people to easily remember this word and the warning signs of a stroke, refers to actions to take and how to act:

• Face
• Arms
• Speech
• Time
• Dand hurry

If someone is suddenly affected by the first three (a crooked smile, inability to raise their arm fully, difficulty speaking) stroke should be suspected and quick action taken, with a call to 061 or 112, which will activate the Stroke code. This code triggers an emergency protocol that includes the activation of a network of healthcare resources that offer immediate care to individuals and family members when stroke is suspected. “If you are uncertain about whether you may be suffering from a stroke, you can immediately activate the Stroke Code by calling the Emergency Medical Service from home, through your Primary Healthcare Centre or the medical team at the hospital can do it, in order to treat the disease quickly,” explains Dr Diego Ballesteros, neurologist at the SJD Sant Boi Hospital. He adds that “the first hours after the onset of the stroke are when we have most treatment options, we can obtain better results and expect a more favourable outcome”.

How to prevent a stroke: main modifiable risk factors

90% of strokes are ischaemic or atherothrombotic and are directly related to cardiovascular risk factors associated with bad habits, alcohol and tobacco consumption, high blood cholesterol levels, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. “The good news is that these factors can be addressed and the risk can be greatly reduced if you opt for a healthy lifestyle, with physical activity, a healthy diet and monitoring of risk factors”, explains Dr Ana Escrig, neurologist at SJD Sant Boi Hospital.

In recent years, the progressive ageing of the population has increased the incidence of stroke but, unfortunately, age is a factor that cannot be changed, along with genetic predisposition.

Every year more than 13,000 cases of stroke are recorded in Catalonia. It is the leading cause of death in women and the second in men, with 4,000 deaths per year, according to the most recent data.