Regional Victorians are among Australians most prone to strokes, according to the National Stroke Foundation.
The foundation has surveyed towns most impacted by stroke, revealing that about 2956 people across the Ballarat electorate are stroke survivors, while the number of stroke-caused deaths across all of Victoria in 2014 sits at 2954.
In the Ballarat electorate alone, there have been 345 strokes so far this year.
The Stroke in Australia: No Postcode Untouched report and website, launched last week, uses data compiled and analysed by Deloitte Access Economics to reveal how big the stroke challenge is in each Australian federal electorate.
National Stroke Foundation chief executive Erin Lalor said the greatest risk factors for stroke included high cholesterol, high blood pressure and physical inactivity.
“Our report shows no postcode is untouched by stroke,” Dr Lalor said. “Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer. This devastating disease also places significant demands on health services, families and the community.”
Every 10 minutes someone in Australia will suffer a stroke, with thousands of cases being reported each week. Close to 12,000 people will die in 2014 from stroke and two-thirds of those who survive will be disabled.
“By ranking electorates we can understand where the impact is greatest,” Dr Lalor said.
Victorian areas with the highest rates of stroke and stroke risk include the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island, with 3810 stroke survivors living in the Flinders electorate. Other at-risk areas are Mildura and Swan Hill, with 3329 stroke survivors living in the Mallee electorate.
“Despite successive governments recognising stroke as a national health priority, Australia doesn’t have a federally funded strategy or the care services to address widespread need,” Dr Lalor said.
She said the foundation was advocating national action to tackle stroke as “all Australians need and deserve access to quality stroke care”.
Details: www.strokefoundation.com.au
