Women Less Aware Of Risk Factors For Stroke

Women are significantly more likely to die of a stroke than men, yet they are also less aware (spontaneously) than men of potential risk factors, according to MORI poll results released today by The Stroke Association. The figures, released to coincide with a major discussion and vote by the National Federation of Women's Institutes on the issue of stroke care, show that women are considerably less likely than men to recognise that eating healthily, and lowering their alcohol consumption, can help to reduce the risk of stroke. 10,000 women will be lending their voice to the issue of stroke care at the National Federation of Women's Institutes Triennial General Meeting at Wembley on the 7th June.

Eoin Redahan, Director of Public Relations at The Stroke Association commented:

'These figures are extremely worrying. Women are three times more likely to die of a stroke than they are of breast cancer, yet many women are clearly unaware of what they can do to help reduce their risk. We hope that the fact that the National Federation of Women's Institutes, the UK's largest women's organisation, is addressing the issue of stroke in such a decisive way will help to dispel some of the ignorance about the condition.'

UK figures show that 16% of women are likely to die of a stroke compared with 8% of men. The MORI poll figures reveal that, when asked what they personally could do to prevent or lower high blood pressure, the single biggest risk factor for stroke, men and women responded spontaneously as follows.

(*The figures for smoking and exercise are not statistically significant)

Women share most of the same risk factors for stroke as men. These include untreated high blood pressure, a family history of stroke, ethnic background, age, diabetes, poor diet, smoking and heavy alcohol intake.

Women and stroke.

• In an average year, some 73,000 women in England are admitted to hospital following a stroke.
• 36,065 women in England and Wales died from stroke in 1998, compared to 21,415 men.
• Stroke accounts for around 15% of all female deaths in the UK.
• The burden of disability caused by stroke in women is high and set to rise because of an ageing population.

Notes

• When a stroke occurs part of the brain is suddenly severely damaged or destroyed. It takes place either when a blood clot forms in a damaged vessel and blocks the flow of blood to the brain, or when a damaged vessel in the brain bursts.
• Every year 100,000 people have a first stroke.
• Stroke is the single biggest cause of serious disability with a total of 300,000 people affected at any one time.
• For more information about the National Federation of Women's Institutes contact Sangeeta Haindl PR Officer on 020-7371 9300.

Technical details

MORI conducted 1,949 interviews with a representative sample of adults aged 15+ in Great Britain. Interviews were carried out in home, face-to-face using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) between 20-23 August 1999. The data are weighted to reflect the national population profile.