Experts show concerns over high prevalence of stroke in Pakistan 

KARACHI: The experts at the international seminar had expressed grave concerns over the high incidence and prevalence of stroke in Pakistan and other Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). 

Experts asserted that stroke was the leading cause of chronic disability and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. 

According to them, there were 5.9 million annual deaths worldwide associated with stroke only. At the same time, hypertension and smoking were the most prevalent risk factors for fatal diseases. They added an urgent need to enhance awareness of risk factors and implement healthy lifestyle habits, specifically in Pakistan. 

These experts spoke during the COMSTECH-ICCBS International Seminar on 'Improving Stroke Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries,' which was hosted at the LEJ National Science Information Center, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi. COMSTECH and ICCBS - the University of Karachi collaborated to arrange the seminar.

Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and Coordinator-General, COMSTECH, Dr Mohammad Wasay, Professor at the Aga Khan's Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Dr Mehdi Farhoudi, an Iranian scholar, Dr Ashfaq Shuaib, Professor at the University of Alberta, Canada, and Dr Maria Khan from Rashid Hospital, Dubai, articulated about these occurrences on occasion. 

Prof Iqbal Choudhary briefed the participants that this seminar was organised to draw attention to the burden of stroke in low and middle-income countries. 

Concerning COMSTECH, he stated that the organisation's primary mission was to increase cooperation among the OIC Member States in science and technology (S&T). It aims to develop programmes and initiatives to help the least-developed Muslim countries develop their capabilities in science and technology (S&T) through inter-Islamic cooperation; he went on to say.

He mentioned the significant programs which COMSTECH had initiated for science and technology and healthcare research for the capacity of OIC African countries.  

Prof Mohammad Wasay said that augmented stroke incidence is primarily linked to ageing and urbanisation and the rising prevalence of important risk factors, particularly in LMICs, such as inactivity, obesity, dietary parameters, diabetes, smoking hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. He stated that screening for stroke risk factors was an excellent opportunity to identify and educate those who were at high risk.

Dr Mehdi Farhoudi said that the burden of stroke was worse in LMICs than High-Income Countries (HICs). 

Dr Ashfaq Shuaib pointed out, "Stroke remains the leading cause of chronic disability and death in LMICs." 

He stressed the need for coordination of care and development of stroke units and rehabilitation programs in the public sector. He said that establishing stroke units should be a national priority. 

He articulated that promoting healthy dietary habits, physical activities, and access to clean air are some recommendations for lessening the burden of stroke in LMICs. 

In the end, Dr Abdul Malik, Liaquat University of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr Fowzia Siddiqi, Aga Khan University, Dr Ossama Yassin, Egypt, Dr Mehdi Farhoudi, and Dr Husnain Hashim, Fouji Foundation hospital all engaged in a panel discussion on the same topic.