Review shows that social and economic factors continue to shape stroke care and long-term outcomes globally

People with lower socioeconomic status (SES) - which can mean having less money, lower levels of education, lower-paying jobs, or living in lower SES areas - are more likely to have a stroke, receive worse care, and face more serious long-term effects like disability or death. These issues are found across many countries and are often worse for women, ethnic minority groups, and migrants. To tackle this, health services and other sectors like housing, transport, and the environment need to work together.

Study finds persistent socioeconomic inequalities in stroke outcomes but not care

There are important differences in outcomes after stroke between people with lower socioeconomic status (SES) - in this study, this means having lower-paying jobs or living in lower SES areas - and people with higher SES. People with lower SES:

• are more likely to be disabled.
• are more likely to have anxiety and/or depression.

These differences have persisted over time even though people in different SES groups have similar access to specialist stroke treatment.

To reduce these inequalities, different agencies (health care, social care, local government and others) need to work together to address medical and non-medical factors that influence stroke recovery.

Study finds persistent ethnic inequalities in stroke care and outcomes

A major study tracking stroke cases in South London over 25 years has revealed important differences between ethnic groups in stroke treatment and outcomes.