Latest news with #Kadie-AnnSterling
The National
09-07-2025
- Health
- The National
Stroke deaths higher in deprived Scottish areas, study finds
A study by the University of Aberdeen, funded by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS), also found those in deprived areas were having strokes younger, as well experiencing more co-existing health conditions. According to Health and Care Scotland, data from almost 50,000 patients recorded in the Scottish Stroke Care Audit was analysed, focusing on various post-stroke outcomes including death from any cause within a year and prescriptions given to offset potential future strokes. READ MORE: Scottish Government invests £85m to expand Hospital at Home care service The study found that stroke patients from deprived areas, especially those with conditions like atrial fibrillation, were less likely to receive guideline-recommended treatment and more likely to be prescribed less effective medication. Researchers say the findings highlight the need to rethink the national approach to stroke prevention and care, with tailored strategies for more deprived communities to address disparities. Lead researcher, Dr Kadie-Ann Sterling, said: 'Understanding the differences in stroke presentation and outcomes between different neighbourhoods should influence public health education, decisions around screening for cardiovascular risk factors and should also be a factor when considering more focussed longer-term follow-up in the most vulnerable patients.' It follows the Scottish Government's launch of a new GP scheme aiming to cut deaths from heart disease and stroke by 20% over 20 years, with a focus on deprived areas where patients are often underrepresented in care. Researchers noted that stroke survivors in affluent areas tend to have better general health and called for greater awareness of stroke risk factors to help close this gap, adding that mortality differences persist even after accounting for stroke severity, access to care, and other health conditions. READ MORE: LIVE: ScotRail trains cancelled as cows on the line cause disruption CHSS have called for urgent action from the Government, with chief executive Jane-Claire Judson saying: 'The worrying trend that people living in more deprived areas are more likely to die within a year of a stroke and less likely to receive the right treatment or consistent care is both alarming and unjust. The postcode lottery for treatment and care must end. 'At CHSS, we're already working in communities to deliver prevention, support recovery, and enable people to self-manage their condition. But we can't do it alone. 'We're calling on the Scottish government and NHS to act now. We need a proactive approach to transforming healthcare services, and CHSS stands ready to help drive forward a fairer and more effective stroke care system for everyone in Scotland.' The Scottish Government was contacted for comment.
The Herald Scotland
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Scots stroke survival linked to deprivation, research shows
Funded by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, a team of researchers investigated morbidity outcomes in areas of low and high deprivation, and found that those living in poorer neighborhoods were more likely to die within a year of having a stroke. The scientists also revealed that access to treatment can vary widely depending on where one lives. For example, those who suffer from atrial fibrillation, or heart rhythm problems, and live in affluent areas are more likely to be prescribed blood thinners to guard against stroke, while those who live in areas of high deprivation are often given aspirin. Treatment options may differ depending on the area's Kadie-Ann Sterling, Research Assistant at the University of Aberdeen, who led the study, said: 'Our findings suggest that there were significant differences in stroke presentation, secondary prevention prescribing and mortality outcomes across different areas in Scotland and this was dependent upon the deprivation within each area. 'Understanding the differences in stroke presentation and outcomes between different neighbourhoods should influence public health education, decisions around screening for cardiovascular risk factors and should also be a factor when considering more focussed longer-term follow-up in the most vulnerable patients.' An estimated 3,806 people in Scotland died from cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke, in 2023. The death rate for cerebrovascular patients was 62% higher in the most deprived areas, when compared to the least deprived neighbourhoods. Read more: Ten per cent of Scottish women 'sexually assaulted at work' Ambulance waiting times for critically ill patients on rise in all 32 councils Calls for public inquiry into Alex Salmond 'conspiracy' after Herald interview Jane-Claire Judson, Chief Executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: 'The study confirms what we see every day in communities across Scotland - stroke care is not equal, and that's unacceptable. 'The worrying trend that people living in more deprived areas are more likely to die within a year of a stroke and less likely to receive the right treatment or consistent care is both alarming and unjust. 'These research outcomes amplify the need for a substantial rethink of how health services are delivered in Scotland. The postcode lottery for treatment and care must end. 'We're calling on the Scottish Government and NHS to act now. We need a proactive approach to transforming healthcare services, and CHSS stands ready to help drive forward a fairer and more effective stroke care system for everyone in Scotland.'
