Cerebrovascular disorders

Cerebrovascular disorders represent one of the most prevalent and devastating diseases of adults. One in every ten deaths worldwide is due to stroke and more than half of stroke survivors are left dependent on others for everyday activities. The epidemiology and management of cerebrovascular disorders are evolving quickly. There is evidence of noticeable ethnic and geographical differences in stroke incidence, prevalence and outcomes. While incidence of stroke tends to decrease in some developed countries, it increases in others and takes epidemic proportions in developing countries. The overall prevalence and socioeconomic burden of stroke tend to increase due to worldwide aging of the population. There is a lack of good quality comparable epidemiological data on stroke incidence and prevalence, especially from developing countries and over a long period of follow-up. Nor are there are many stroke management strategies of proven effectiveness and much research remains to be done in these areas. The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the current knowledge in incidence, prevalence, risk factors, medical and socioeconomic outcomes, and management strategies of cerebrovascular disorders, with the emphasis on population-based studies in stroke and transient ischemic attack. © 2007 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.