World Stroke Organization: Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2025.

Background: Among non-communicable disorders (NCDs), stroke remains the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of death and disability combined (as expressed by disability-adjusted life-years lost-DALYs) in the world.

Aims: The study was aimed to estimate global, regional and nationa burden of stroke and its risk factors from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: Finding presented in this paper were derived mainly from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study on stroke burden published in The Lancet Neurology 2024:23:973-1003.

Criteria and Indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation: A Global Consensus Facilitated by ISRRA.

Background: The aim of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance is to create a world where worldwide collaboration brings major breakthroughs for the millions of people living with stroke. A key pillar of this work is to define globally relevant criteria for centers that aspire to deliver excellent clinical rehabilitation and generate exceptional outcomes for patients.

Objectives: This paper presents consensus work conducted with an international group of expert stroke recovery and rehabilitation researchers, clinicians, and people living with stroke to identify and define criteria and measurable indicators for Centers of Clinical Excellence (CoCE) in stroke recovery and rehabilitation.

Sex Differences of Hospital and Emergency Department Presentations of Stroke in Canada.

We provide an updated estimate of adult stroke event rates by age group, sex, and stroke type using Canadian administrative data. In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, there were an estimated 81,781 hospital or emergency department visits for stroke events in Canada, excluding Quebec. Our findings show that overall, the event rate of stroke is similar between women and men.

Access to Heart Failure Services in Canada: Findings of the Heart and Stroke National Heart Failure Resources and Services Inventory.

Background: The rising incidence of heart failure (HF) in Canada necessitates commensurate resources dedicated to its management. Several health system partners launched an HF Action Plan to understand the current state of HF care in Canada and address inequities in access and resources.

Methods: A national Heart Failure Resources and Services Inventory (HF-RaSI) was conducted from 2020 to 2021 of all 629 acute care hospitals and 20 urgent care centres in Canada.

Exploring the Poststroke Experiences and Needs of South Asian Communities Living in High-Income Countries: Findings from a Scoping Review.

Despite the high prevalence of stroke among South Asian communities in high-income countries, a comprehensive understanding of their unique experiences and needs after stroke is lacking. This study aimed to synthesize the literature examining the experiences and needs of South Asian community members impacted by stroke and their family caregivers residing in high-income countries. A scoping review methodology was utilized.

A Survey of Female-Specific Cardiovascular Protocols in Emergency Departments in Canada.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death for women. However, systematic inequalities exist in how women experience clinical cardiovascular (CV) policies, programs, and initiatives.

Methods: In collaboration with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, a question regarding female-specific CV protocols in an emergency department (ED), or an inpatient or ambulatory care area of a healthcare site was sent via e-mail to 450 healthcare sites in Canada.

Estimating the Number of Hospital or Emergency Department Presentations for Stroke in Canada.

Background: Although age-standardized stroke occurrence has been decreasing, the absolute number of stroke events globally, and in Canada, is increasing. Stroke surveillance is necessary for health services planning, informing research design, and public health messaging. We used administrative data to estimate the number of stroke events resulting in hospital or emergency department presentation across Canada in the 2017-18 fiscal year.

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Acute Stroke Management, 7 Edition Practice Guidelines Update, 2022.

The 2022 update of the , 7 edition, is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations, appropriate for use by an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers and system planners caring for persons with an acute stroke or transient ischemic attack. These recommendations are a timely opportunity to reassess current processes to ensure efficient access to acute stroke diagnostics, treatments, and management strategies, proven to reduce mortality and morbidity. The topics covered include prehospital care, emergency department care, intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), prevention and management of inhospital complications, vascular risk factor reduction, early rehabilitation, and end-of-life care.

Endovascular thrombectomy and intravenous alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion: A clinical practice guideline.

Aim: Whether or not use of intravenous alteplase in combination with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) improves outcomes versus EVT alone, for acute stroke patients with large vessel occlusion presenting directly to a comprehensive stroke center, is uncertain.

Methods: Six randomized trials exploring this issue were published, and we synthesized this evidence to inform a rapid guideline based on the Guidelines International Network principles and guided by the GRADE approach.

Results: We enlisted an international panel that included 4 patient partners and 1 caregiver, individuals from 6 countries.

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Virtual Stroke Rehabilitation Interim Consensus Statement 2022.

The seventh edition of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Rehabilitation and Recovery following Stroke includes a new section devoted to the provision of virtual stroke rehabilitation. This consensus statement uses Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations methodology and Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II principles. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases.

Endovascular thrombectomy with or without intravenous alteplase for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Among patients who had an ischaemic stroke presenting directly to a stroke centre where endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is immediately available, there is uncertainty regarding the role of intravenous thrombolysis agents before or concurrently with EVT. To support a rapid guideline, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the impact of EVT alone versus EVT with intravenous alteplase in patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

Methods: In November 2021, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, clincialtrials.

Exploring the poststroke experiences and unmet needs of South Asian communities in high-income countries: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: South Asian groups experience a higher burden of stroke and poorer functional outcomes after stroke than their White counterparts. However, within the stroke literature, there has been little focus on the unique poststroke needs of the South Asian community and opportunities for community-based services to address these needs.

Research Question: What is the current knowledge base related to the experiences and needs, including unmet needs of people living with stroke and their caregivers from South Asian communities living in high-income countries?

Aims: This is a protocol for a review that intends to synthesise existing studies of the poststroke experiences and needs of individuals from South Asian communities to uncover opportunities for community-based resources to address these needs.

World Stroke Organization (WSO): Global Stroke Fact Sheet 2022.

Stroke remains the second-leading cause of death and the third-leading cause of death and disability combined (as expressed by disability-adjusted life-years lost - DALYs) in the world. The estimated global cost of stroke is over US$721 billion (0.66% of the global GDP).

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Secondary Prevention of Stroke Update 2020.

The 2020 update of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSBPR) for the Secondary Prevention of Stroke includes current evidence-based recommendations and expert opinions intended for use by clinicians across a broad range of settings. They provide guidance for the prevention of ischemic stroke recurrence through the identification and management of modifiable vascular risk factors. Recommendations address triage, diagnostic testing, lifestyle behaviors, vaping, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, other cardiac conditions, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies, and carotid and vertebral artery disease.

The Impact of Stroke Public Awareness Campaigns Differs Between Sociodemographic Groups.

Background: Prehospital delays are a major obstacle to timely reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke sign recognition, however, remains poor in the community. We present an analysis of repeated surveys to assess the impact of Face, Arm, Speech, Time (FAST) public awareness campaigns on stroke knowledge.

People With Lived Experience at the Centre of Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: A Model for Guideline Developers.

Actively engaging people with lived experience (PWLE) in stroke-related clinical practice guideline development has not been effectively implemented. This pilot project evaluated the feasibility, perceived value, and effectiveness of the Community Consultation and Review Panel (CCRP), a new model to engage PWLE in the writing and review of Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations. Responses to a standardized evaluation tool indicated that participants perceived the CCRP as valued, impactful, effective, and beneficial to stroke care.

Canadian Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia (CCCDTD)5: Guidelines for management of vascular cognitive impairment.

Introduction: Vascular disease is a common cause of dementia, and often coexists with other brain pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease to cause mixed dementia. Many of the risk factors for vascular disease are treatable. Our objective was to review evidence for diagnosis and treatment of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) to issue recommendations to clinicians.

Canadian stroke best practice recommendations: , 7th Edition Update 2020.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a particularly devastating type of stroke with greater morbidity and mortality compared with ischemic stroke and can account for half or more of all deaths from stroke. The seventh update of the includes a new stand-alone module on intracerebral hemorrhage, with a focus on elements of care that are unique or affect persons disproportionately relative to ischemic stroke. Prior to this edition, intracerebral hemorrhage was included in the Acute Stroke Management module and was limited to its management during the first 12 h.

Stroke systems of care in high-income countries: what is optimal?

Stroke is a complex, time-sensitive, medical emergency that requires well functioning systems of care to optimise treatment and improve patient outcomes. Education and training campaigns are needed to improve both the recognition of stroke among the general public and the response of emergency medical services. Specialised stroke ambulances (mobile stroke units) have been piloted in many cities to speed up the diagnosis, triage, and emergency treatment of people with acute stroke symptoms.