Report on a 2020 survey on the burden of stroke in China with cross-sectional study design

China bears the biggest stroke burden in the world. However, little is known about the current prevalence, incidence, and mortality of stroke at the national level.
This cross-sectional study (n=676394; >40 years) provided statistics on the estimated prevalence (2.6%), incidence (505.2 per 100000 person-years) and mortality rates (343.4 per 100 000 person-years) of stroke in China in the year 2020. In addition, the authors noted an urban-rural disparity in stroke burden in China. The prevalence (2.7%) of stroke was higher in urban areas, whilst the incidence (485.5 per 100000 person-years) and mortality rates (309.9 per 100000 person-years) of stroke was higher in rural areas.
The authors conclude that prioritizing stroke prevention in the general Chinese population is necessary to reduce the burden of disease.