Changing the Landscape of Stroke in Egypt

Cerebrovasc Dis Extra. 2021;11(3):155-159. doi: 10.1159/000521271. Epub 2021 Dec 3.

Abstract

Egypt, a low-middle-income country, is the most populated nation in the Middle East with a high overall crude prevalence rate of stroke (963/100,000 inhabitants), accounting for 6.4% of all deaths. In this article, we discuss how, through a corrective plan, we could change the landscape of stroke services in Egypt, in a relatively short time, raising thrombolysis rate from <1% to 12.3%, with shortening of door-to-needle time. We could build a database that now exceeds 5,000 patients, our centers received international accreditation and several awards, and we developed tele-stroke service.

Keywords: Egypt; Low- and middle-income countries; Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; Stroke; Thrombolysis.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Brain Ischemia* / drug therapy
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Prevalence
  • Stroke* / diagnosis
  • Stroke* / epidemiology
  • Stroke* / therapy
  • Thrombolytic Therapy
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Fibrinolytic Agents
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator