Younger people face rising stroke risk as aftercare falls short

More younger people are being treated for strokes, with smoking, inactivity and unhealthy diets among the risk factors, ORF reports. Experts also warn of gaps in follow-up care after patients leave hospital.

People over 75 remain at the highest risk, said Christoph Höfer, who leads the stroke unit and stroke follow-up clinic at the Barmherzige Brüder hospital in Linz. But younger patients are increasingly affected, often because of an unhealthy lifestyle, he said.

Experts say a stroke occurs in Austria every 20 minutes. In Linz, the Kepler University Hospital and the Barmherzige Brüder hospital treat about 1,600 people a year in their specialised stroke units.

Stroke effects can persist, including problems with speech and movement, as well as difficulties with concentration and everyday tasks. While Upper Austria has a well-developed network of rehabilitation places, Höfer said support immediately after a stroke remains inadequate.

The Barmherzige Brüder hospital admits about 800 people affected by stroke each year, but fewer than one in 10 receives a place in follow-up care intended to help prevent another stroke. Höfer said patients need more support and therapy, particularly in the first weeks after leaving hospital.