In 2008, the World Stroke Congress reported that 20 million Stroke events occur globally each year and account for 5.7 million deaths. Stroke is now the second most common cause of death worldwide and a major cause of disability. The incidence of Stroke is expected to increase by 30% over the next decade (6th World Stroke Congress, Vienna, Austria, 24th-27th September 2008).

In a field where therapies are often unsatisfactory, physicians seek to extend their understanding and use of available treatments to improve patient outcomes. Knowledge in these areas is also important to drug developers, who seek a better understanding of prescribing practices and treatment needs and limitations from the clinician’s perspective, as part of their own efforts to develop more effective therapies. To meet interest in these areas, Biopharm Reports has conducted a global survey on current treatments and drug prescribing practices for Stroke. This survey involved the participation of more than 230 clinical centres in 41 countries.

• Global quantitative data on treatments and drug prescribing practices for Ischaemic Stroke, Haemorrhagic Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), provided by more than 230 clinics in 41 countries.
  
  
• More than 98% of study participants are practicing physicians, working in areas of Stroke treatment. Of these, 65% are specialists in Stroke treatment. Leading participant countries were USA, Italy, India, Canada, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium and China.
  
  
• More than 60% of the clinical centres participating in this study were hospital specialist Stroke units, specialist Stroke practices or private Stroke clinics.
  
  
• Detailed information on drugs classes used in the treatment of patients with Ischaemic Stroke, Haemorrhagic Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), together with population-based drug prescribing profiles.
  
  
• Quantitative prescribing data on specific antiplatelet, anticoagulant, thrombolytic and other drugs used in the treatment of Ischaemic Stroke, Haemorrhagic Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA).
  
  
• The percentage of Ischaemic Stroke patients prescribed the antiplatelets aspirin (e.g. Aspro®), dipyridamole (e.g. Persantine®), clopidogrel (e.g. Plavix®), aspirin/dipyridamol (e.g. Asasantin®), ticlopidine (e.g. Ticlid®) and others (specified).
  
  
• The percentage of Ischaemic Stroke patients prescribed the coagulants warfarin (e.g. Coumadin®), heparin (e.g. Hepalean®), dicoumarol (e.g. Dicoumarol), antithrombin III (e.g. Thrombate III®), argatroban (e.g. Novastan®), bivalirudin (e.g. Angiomax®), sandoparin (e.g. Certoparin®), enoxaparin (e.g. Lovenox®), ethyl biscoumacetate (e.g. romexan®), nadroparin (e.g. Fraxiparine®) or others (specified)
  
  
• The percentage of Ischaemic Stroke patients prescribed the thrombolytic drug Tissue Plasminogen Activator (e.g. Alteplase®) or others (specified).
  
  
• The percentage of Haemorrhagic Stroke patients prescribed clotting factor (e.g. vitamin K), clotting proteins (e.g. prothrombin), calcium channel blockers (e.g. nimodipine), antihypertensives, platelets, plasma or other (specified).
  
  
• Prescribing practices on the use of specific drug combinations, used in the treatment of Ischaemic and Haemorrhagic Stroke.
  
  
• The percentage of Haemorrhagic Stroke patients treated surgically by aneurysm clipping, endovascular treatment of aneurysms, surgical arteriovenous malformation (AVM) removal, steriotactic radiosurgery, endovascular treatment of AVMs, removal of haematoma, ventriculostomy, carotid endarterectomy, craniotomy and others (specified).
  
  
• From the clinician's perspective: current limitations in the diagnosis and treatment of Stroke.