Less than One among four are familiar with brain stroke in Pune: Brain Stroke Consumer Survey
Pune (Voice News Service): Boehringer Ingelheim India, a world-leading, research-driven pharmaceutical company, has released the findings of India’s first consumer survey on brain stroke titled – The State of Stroke: A Survey On Awareness About Stroke In Urban India, ahead of World Brain Day, 2022. The survey was commissioned by Boehringer Ingelheim India and conducted by IPSOS, a global leader in market research.
According to the Indian Stroke Association, approximately 1.8 million people in India suffer from brain stroke, it is the second most common cause of death after coronary artery disease (CAD) in India. While Lancet Global Health, in 2019 states that 7.4% of the total deaths in the country were due to brain stroke. As per the Indian Stroke Association, there has been a 100 percent increase in stroke deaths in the country between 1996-2019. A major cause for this increase is the lack of awareness around the disease, its prevention, and treatment. Boehringer Ingelheim India commissioned a national survey that brought to the fore, the ‘lack of awareness around brain stroke’ in the country.
The survey, conducted by IPSOS with a sample size of 4742, across 12 cities in India revealed that only 22% of the respondents were aware of the risk factors and symptoms of brain stroke, and the awareness levels further drop to just 10% with respect to the treatment options.
Across India, 70% of the respondents were found to be familiar with the term brain stroke across. However, in Pune, just 24% of respondents recalled awareness of the term brain stroke, which was the lowest among the surveyed cities. The survey results also revealed:
· 18% of those surveyed did not know any of the risk factors associated with brain stroke
• Compared to the national average of 11%, only 5% knew all 3 symptoms associated with brain stroke like speech difficulty, facial drooping, and arm & link weakness
• Familiarity with regards to the disease condition was particularly low in Pune
• Call for action across elements was muted in Pune. For instance, only 9% of the respondents were aware that in the incidence of brain stroke, the patient needs to be taken to a stroke ready hospital
• Recall of diagnostic procedures was considerably lower in Pune
“The report is a clarion call to improve access to quality stroke care services in India. Time saved is brain saved and considering only 20% were aware of risk factors in the cities surveyed, we need a massive awareness campaign to help families and patients identify stroke and reach hospitals on time. The patients group Stroke Support Alliance calls for all stakeholders to come together and save every stroke patient that can be saved,” said Dr. Ratna Devi, CEO and Co-founder, DakshamA Health and Education.
Dr. NR Ichhaporia, Ex. president of Neurology Society of Pune and Maharashtra Academy of Neurologists, said, “In an environment where the prevalence of brain stroke is on the rise, lower levels of awareness is certainly a cause of worry. We are glad that this survey by Boehringer Ingelheim highlights a critical need to build awareness around brain stroke, notably in Pune. As a community, we will work towards improving the knowledge of the masses regarding the condition in a holistic manner. Thus, enabling people to realize the significance of receiving the right treatment at the right time at the right place, ultimately saving lives.”
Dr. Shraddha Bhure, Medical Director, Boehringer Ingelheim India, said “Brain stroke is a serious medical emergency which could result in devastating disabilities. In a country like India, where its incidences are on the rise, addressing an episode of brain stroke in a timely manner can go a long way. Boehringer Ingelheim endeavors to raise awareness around this serious condition and emphasize the need for prompt response in the event of a stroke. In that context, our website’s – strokeofsupport.com – special feature helping people find the nearest stroke ready center is in response to this need.”
To address the awareness gap, Boehringer Ingelheim India launched a website – strokeofsupport.com. The dedicated website is an online stroke support and information portal designed to help both patients and caregivers. One of the key features of the website is to find the nearest Stroke ready center by pin code. A stroke ready center is a hospital with 24/7 rapid diagnostic procedures like CT scans and a dedicated stroke response team, equipped to provide emergency stroke care.
