Stroke numbers rising - professor

Professor Valery Feigin. File photo / The Aucklander

Strokes are the leading cause of disability and death in New Zealand and urgent measures are needed to reduce the number of victims, a professor says.

Stroke occurrences in New Zealand are the second-highest amongst developed countries and numbers are increasing, National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neuroscience Professor Valery Feigin said.

The institute was launched today by the Associate Minister of Health Jonathan Coleman at the Auckland University of Technology's North Shore campus.

The institute's aim was to conduct research to improve the health and rehabilitation of people with major neurological disorders including stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Stroke affected thousands of people every year and costs more than $450 million each year in hospital and rehabilitation-related expenses.

Stroke incidence had declined by 42 per cent during the past three decades in other developed countries but in New Zealand it fell only 11 per cent between 1981 and 2003 - and by only 11 per cent. It had increased 66 per cent in the Pacific population and 19 per cent in Maori, Prof Feigin said.

Stroke mainly affected elderly people and because of New Zealand's ageing population, the number of stroke victims are expected to rise substantially, he said.

- NZPA