Stroke Distribution in North Carolina

The public health burden of stroke is considerable in North Carolina relative to other areas of the country.

• North Carolina has the 6th highest stroke mortality rate in the nation.
• The age-adjusted stroke death rate in North Carolina in 2005 was 23% higher than the US rate.
• In 2007, stroke caused 4,335 deaths in North Carolina.
• North Carolina is a part of the Stroke Belt, an area that has substantially higher stroke death rates than the rest of the nation.
• Stroke costs North Carolina an estimated 1.05 billion dollars annually 1 .

1 Datta SK, Matchar DB. Economic Burden of Stroke in the Tri-State Area. In: Huston Sl, Lengerich EJ, Pratap SA, Puckett, EM, eds. Unexplained Stroke Disparity: Report and Recommendations from Three Southeastern States . Raleigh, NC. NC Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force; 2000.

Stroke death rates in North Carolina declined less than 1% per year between 1990 and 2000, but have since declined by 6 % per year between 2000 and 2005 (Figure 2). North Carolina can reach the Health People 2010 target if it maintains the current decline in stroke death rates. The highest stroke rates within the state are found mainly in the eastern counties (Figure 1). The high burden of stroke and stroke mortality in North Carolina heightened efforts to implement a statewide Acute Stroke Registry.