Researchers at King’s College London examined data from more than 8,500 adults participating in the South London Stroke Register over a 30-year period, finding significant disparities in stroke risk factor prevalence between ethnic groups.
The analysis revealed that Black people experienced rising rates of stroke risk factors at a faster pace than white populations. Specifically, diabetes was approximately twice as common in Black Caribbean and Black African participants compared with white participants on the register. High blood pressure was documented at 29% higher prevalence in Black Caribbean individuals and 47% higher in Black African individuals. When examining the 30-year trend, diabetes rates among Black African participants increased from 21% between 1995 and 2004 to 41% between 2015 and 2024.
The research also highlighted another concern: Black African people were twice as likely to experience stroke without a prior risk factor diagnosis, occurring at a rate of 12% compared with 6% in white populations. Lead researcher Dr Eva Emmett noted that current NHS health screening begins at age 40, which may be inadequate for higher-risk groups who often experience strokes at younger ages.
Socioeconomic factors also played a significant role in the findings. Diabetes prevalence was 23% higher among individuals in manual occupations and 21% higher in those with lower education levels. High blood pressure and diabetes increases over the study period were most pronounced in populations with lower socioeconomic status.
Experts called for earlier and more targeted prevention strategies, including expanded cardiovascular risk screening for younger individuals in high-risk populations and improved access to preventive care across different communities.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI