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Stroke risk in stroke patients

A previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) increases risk of further strokes now or in the future. Almost 30% of strokes are recurrent events1.

Among people who have had a stroke:2,3,4

  • Around 1 in 10 will have a second stroke within 1 year
  • Around 1 in 5 will have a second stroke within 5 years

Secondary stroke can be more disabling than the first, so protecting our brain is essential5. The impact of recurrent strokes on caregivers is also thought to be higher than for a first stroke6.

To help prevent a second stroke, survivors will likely be recommended to start taking medication7.

Additionally, as with first stroke, appropriate management of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and smoking, while encouraging healthier diets and physical activity, can reduce the risk of death from further heart attacks and strokes8. More than one million fatal cardiovascular disease events (including stroke) could be avoided in the EU over the next 10 years if 70% of people living with cardiovascular disease manage their risk factors9.

Understanding which risk factors are important is the first step in reducing risk, protecting our brain and potentially preventing strokes.

 

References

  1. Ferrone SR, Boltyenkov AT, Lodato Z, et al. Clinical outcomes and costs of recurrent ischemic stroke: a systematic review. J Stroke CerebrovascDis. 2022;31(6):106438.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2022.106438
  2. Huang ZX, Lin XL, Lu HK, Liang XY, Fan LJ, Liu XT. Lifestyles correlate with stroke recurrence in Chinese inpatients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke. J Neurol. 2019;266:1194–1202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-019-09249-5
  3. Modrego PJ, Mainar R, Turull L. Recurrence and survival after first-ever stroke in the area of Bajo Aragon, Spain. A prospective cohort study. J Neurol Sci. 2004;224:49–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2004.06.002
  4. Rucker V, Heuschmann PU, O’Flaherty M, et al. Twenty-year time trends in long-term case-fatality and recurrence rates after ischemic stroke stratified by etiology. Stroke. 2020;51:2778–2785. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.029972
  5. Feigin VL, Owolabi MO, World Stroke Organization–Lancet Neurology Commission Stroke Collaboration Group. Pragmatic Solutions to Reduce the Global Burden of Stroke: A World Stroke Organization–Lancet Neurology Commission. Lancet Neurol. 2023;22(12):1160–1206. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1474-4422(23)00277-6
  6. Caso V, Agredano J, Cordonnier C, et al. Global expert consensus on the importance of secondary stroke prevention: challenges, care coordination and unmet needs for non-cardioembolic ischaemic stroke survivors. Eur Stroke J. 2026;11(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/esj/aakaf012
  7. Dawson J, Bejot Y, Christensen LM, et al. European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guideline on pharmacological interventions for long-term secondary prevention after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. Eur Stroke J. 2022;7(3):I-XLI. https://doi.org/10.1177/23969873221100032
  8. Boehme AK, Esenwa C, Elkind MSV. Stroke Risk Factors, Genetics, and Prevention. Circ Res. 2017;120(3):472–495. https://doi.org/10.1161/circresaha.116.308398
  9. Gill J, Miracolo A, Politopoulou K, et al. Determining the Benefits of Improving Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. London School of Economics. 2023. https://www.lse.ac.uk/business/consulting/reports/determining-the-benefits-of-improving-secondary-prevention-of-cardiovascular-disease

STROKE RISKS

Read about risk factors we can change 

LIFESTYLE

ENVIRONMENT

MEDICAL
CONDITIONS

Read about risk factors we cannot change 

AGE

BIOLOGICAL
SEX

ETHNICITY

GENETICS

MEDICAL
CONDITIONS

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