Stroke Prevention and Health Care Issues: An American Perspective

The ultimate goal of biomedical research is the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and disability. We are indeed fortunate that preventive measures for stroke are now available and applicable; also, important additional strategies are being actively explored. Future studies of stroke prevention need to address three aspects of the stroke syndrome: (1) the prevention of the initial episode; (2) the prevention of brain cell destruction during the acute period, and (3) the prevention or reduction of cognitive and physical deficits as a consequence of cell death. The economic and social impact of stroke is difficult to evaluate. In the past, the usual economic estimates were based on the cost of long-term disability. Today, with methods of early intervention now available, the cost of acute medical and surgical care, as well as long-term consequences, need to be included.