Stroke in India - Issues in Primary and Secondary Prevention

India will face an enormous socio-economic burden to meet the costs of rehabilitation of stroke victims because the population is now surviving through peak years (age 55-65) of occurrence of stroke or cerebrovascular disease (CVD). Recent community surveys from many regions of India show a crude prevalence rate for strokes presumed to be of vascular origin in the range of 200 per 100,000 persons. Major risk factors identified in India are hypertension (> 95 mmHg diastolic), hyperglycemia, tobacco use (smoking/chewing) and low normal haemoglobin levels (< 10 gm%).A public awareness campaign focussing on the control of stroke risk factors, along with governmental support to implement a national health policy for screening high risk population in a cost effective manner, is highly recommended.