Researchers at King’s College London examined data spanning 30 years from the South London Stroke Register, analyzing information from more than 8,500 adults to assess trends in stroke risk factors across different demographic groups. The investigation found significant disparities in how quickly certain health conditions are developing among people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Among the key findings, diabetes prevalence doubled in Black Caribbean and Black African participants compared with white counterparts. High blood pressure was documented at 29% higher rates in Black Caribbean individuals and 47% higher in Black African individuals. Diabetes rates showed particularly steep increases for Black African participants, rising from 21% between 1995 and 2004 to 41% between 2015 and 2024. Additionally, people from Black African backgrounds experienced stroke without prior risk factor diagnosis at twice the rate of white people, at 12% compared with 6%.
Dr Eva Emmett, lead author of the study, highlighted that these findings suggest current prevention strategies may be inadequate. She noted that NHS health checks for hypertension and diabetes begin at age 40, which may be too late for higher-risk populations who often experience stroke at younger ages. Emmett advocated for earlier screening protocols and more targeted prevention efforts tailored to at-risk groups.
The analysis also revealed socioeconomic patterns in stroke risk factors. Diabetes prevalence was 23% higher among those in manual occupations and 21% higher in participants with lower education levels. Both diabetes and high blood pressure increases were most pronounced in individuals with lower socioeconomic status. Officials from the Stroke Association emphasized that prevention benefits remain unevenly distributed across communities, with certain populations developing risk factors earlier and experiencing strokes before diagnoses are established.
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