Abstract
Stroke is the second leading cause of death and a major contributor to disability worldwide. The prevalence of stroke is highest in developing countries, with ischemic stroke being the most common type. Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the pathophysiology of stroke and the underlying mechanisms leading to ischemic insult. Stroke therapy primarily focuses on restoring blood flow to the brain and treating stroke-induced neurological damage. Lack of success in recent clinical trials has led to significant refinement of animal models, focus-driven study design and use of new technologies in stroke research. Simultaneously, despite progress in stroke management, post-stroke care exerts a substantial impact on families, the healthcare system and the economy. Improvements in pre-clinical and clinical care are likely to underpin successful stroke treatment, recovery, rehabilitation and prevention. In this review, we focus on the pathophysiology of stroke, major advances in the identification of therapeutic targets and recent trends in stroke research.
Highlights
Stroke is a neurological disorder characterized by blockage of blood vessels
Due to this misclassification within the ICD, stroke patients and researchers did not benefit from government support or grant funding directed towards neurological disease
After prolonged advocacy from a group of clinicians, the true nature and significance of stroke was acknowledged in the International Classification of Disease 11 (ICD-11); stroke was re-categorized into the neurological chapter [1]
Summary
Stroke is a neurological disorder characterized by blockage of blood vessels. Until the International Classification of Disease 11 (ICD-11) was released in 2018, stroke was classified as a disease of the blood vessels. Under the previous ICD coding rationale, clinical data generated from stroke patients were included as part of the cardiovascular diseases chapter, greatly misrepresenting the severity and specific disease burden of stroke. Due to this misclassification within the ICD, stroke patients and researchers did not benefit from government support or grant funding directed towards neurological disease. The reclassification of stroke as a neurological disorder has led to more accurate documentation of data and statistical analysis, supporting improvements in acute healthcare and acquisition of research funding for stroke
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
