Stroke Care Services in Brazil

Abstract

The burden of stroke in Brazil, as in other developing countries, has considerably increased over the past years. With incidence rates ranging from 105 to 137 cases per 100 000 persons per year and mortality reaching 24%, stroke is a major public health issue in this continental country. Although most strokes in Brazil can be attributed to classic treatable cardiovascular risk factors, infectious diseases such as Chagas disease, arboviruses hemorrhagic fevers, neurocysticercosis, and malaria are also important risk factors. Socioeconomic disparities and population unawareness about stroke symptoms are great challenges in Brazil. There was an improvement in stroke awareness after the Brazilian Stroke Society and the World Stroke Organization launched several campaigns throughout the country. Another important step was taken in 2012, when the Brazilian Ministry of Health published the Brazilian National Stroke Act, including reimbursement for rtPA, creation of stroke centers qualified according to the hospital complexity, integration of the Brazilian Emergency Medical System, establishment of a budget for the rehabilitation system, and education and training of healthcare professionals and of the population. Since these measures, the number of stroke centers increased from 35 in 2008 to 149 in 2017 and stroke mortality in public stroke centers decreased from 17.9% in 2010 to 12.8% in 2014. Although much has improved, Brazil still has major social inequalities and further measures are needed to guarantee a high-quality stroke care.