Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019

ABSTRACT Background Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long‐term disability in China. Rehabilitation is known to be an effective intervention for reducing disability among stroke survivors. This study seeks to quantify the rehabilitation needs of stroke patients in China by analyzing preval...

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Main Authors: Peng Zhao, Huaxia Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Brain and Behavior
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70389
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author Peng Zhao
Huaxia Sun
author_facet Peng Zhao
Huaxia Sun
author_sort Peng Zhao
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long‐term disability in China. Rehabilitation is known to be an effective intervention for reducing disability among stroke survivors. This study seeks to quantify the rehabilitation needs of stroke patients in China by analyzing prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). Methods To assess rehabilitation needs, we first estimated the prevalence and YLDs among stroke patients in China using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The WHO Rehabilitation Need Estimator was then applied to these estimates to derive the rehabilitation requirements. Results Our study reveals a substantial need for stroke rehabilitation services in China in 2019. An estimated 25.0 million stroke patients (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 22.0–28.0) could benefit from these services, accounting for 6.1 million years lived with disability (YLDs) [4.3–7.8]. This burden is disproportionately distributed between genders, with males experiencing 11.0 [9.5–12.0] million prevalent cases and 2.5 [1.8–3.2] million YLDs, compared to females with 14.0 [12.0–16.0] million cases and 3.6 [2.5–4.8] million YLDs. Worryingly, the age‐standardized prevalence of stroke in China has increased by 15.2% since 1990, rising from 11.2 per 1000 (95UI, 10.1–12.5) to 12.9 per 1000 (95UI, 11.5–14.4). Similarly, the age‐standardized YLD rate has grown by 15.8%, from 2.72 per 1000 (95UI, 1.94–3.49) to 3.15 per 1000 (95UI, 2.21–4.48). This upward trend in China contrasts sharply with the global picture, where age‐standardized prevalence and YLD rates have decreased by 6.2% and 4.8%, respectively. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a critical need for expanded access to rehabilitation services within China's stroke care system. To enhance patient outcomes and address this growing need, increased investment in stroke rehabilitation infrastructure, training, and research is essential.
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spelling doaj-art-f1ae41bddee144c69ef6ca86ea88f4fd2025-08-20T03:08:36ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792025-03-01153n/an/a10.1002/brb3.70389Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019Peng Zhao0Huaxia Sun1Department of Neurology The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University Zhangjiakou Hebei Province ChinaDepartment of Neurology Weifang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Weifang Shandong Province ChinaABSTRACT Background Stroke remains a leading cause of death and long‐term disability in China. Rehabilitation is known to be an effective intervention for reducing disability among stroke survivors. This study seeks to quantify the rehabilitation needs of stroke patients in China by analyzing prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). Methods To assess rehabilitation needs, we first estimated the prevalence and YLDs among stroke patients in China using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The WHO Rehabilitation Need Estimator was then applied to these estimates to derive the rehabilitation requirements. Results Our study reveals a substantial need for stroke rehabilitation services in China in 2019. An estimated 25.0 million stroke patients (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 22.0–28.0) could benefit from these services, accounting for 6.1 million years lived with disability (YLDs) [4.3–7.8]. This burden is disproportionately distributed between genders, with males experiencing 11.0 [9.5–12.0] million prevalent cases and 2.5 [1.8–3.2] million YLDs, compared to females with 14.0 [12.0–16.0] million cases and 3.6 [2.5–4.8] million YLDs. Worryingly, the age‐standardized prevalence of stroke in China has increased by 15.2% since 1990, rising from 11.2 per 1000 (95UI, 10.1–12.5) to 12.9 per 1000 (95UI, 11.5–14.4). Similarly, the age‐standardized YLD rate has grown by 15.8%, from 2.72 per 1000 (95UI, 1.94–3.49) to 3.15 per 1000 (95UI, 2.21–4.48). This upward trend in China contrasts sharply with the global picture, where age‐standardized prevalence and YLD rates have decreased by 6.2% and 4.8%, respectively. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a critical need for expanded access to rehabilitation services within China's stroke care system. To enhance patient outcomes and address this growing need, increased investment in stroke rehabilitation infrastructure, training, and research is essential.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70389Chinarehabilitationstroke
spellingShingle Peng Zhao
Huaxia Sun
Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
Brain and Behavior
China
rehabilitation
stroke
title Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
title_full Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
title_fullStr Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
title_short Evaluating the Rehabilitation Needs of Stroke Patients in China: A Trend Analysis From 1990 to 2019
title_sort evaluating the rehabilitation needs of stroke patients in china a trend analysis from 1990 to 2019
topic China
rehabilitation
stroke
url https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.70389
work_keys_str_mv AT pengzhao evaluatingtherehabilitationneedsofstrokepatientsinchinaatrendanalysisfrom1990to2019
AT huaxiasun evaluatingtherehabilitationneedsofstrokepatientsinchinaatrendanalysisfrom1990to2019