by Kamal Pratap Singh
Introduction
Stroke is a brain attack, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Stroke is one of the leading causes
of death and disability in India. The estimated adjusted prevalence rate of stroke range, 84-262/1 00,000 in
rural and 334-424/ 1 00,000 in urban areas. The incidence rate is 1 1 9-1 45/1 00,000 based on the recent population based studies. There is also a wide variation in case fatality rates with the highest being 42% in Kolkata. Stroke units are predominantly available in urban areas that too in private hospitals. Intravenous (IV) and intra-arterial thrombolysis (IA) are commonly used in India. In the ongoing Indo USA National stroke registry the rate of IV thrombolysis is 1 1%. Journal of STROKE 201 3;1 5(3) :1 28-1 34.
