Stroke Risk Factors Rise Faster in Black Communities

Analysis of data spanning 30 years from the South London Stroke Register has revealed that stroke risk factors are escalating at a quicker pace for people of Black African and Caribbean heritage when contrasted with white individuals. The study, conducted by researchers at King's College London, examined information from over 8,500 adults.

Disparities in Diabetes and Hypertension

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The research indicated that diabetes was roughly twice as prevalent among Black Caribbean and Black African individuals on the stroke register when compared to their white counterparts. Similarly, high blood pressure was found to be 29% more common in Black Caribbean people and 47% more common in Black African people. These conditions are significant precursors to stroke.

Diabetes rates saw the most rapid increase among Black African participants, climbing from 21% in the period between 1995 and 2004 to 41% between 2015 and 2024. This rapid rise suggests a worsening trend for this specific demographic.

Strokes Without Prior Risk Factor Diagnosis

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Further findings highlighted that individuals of Black African descent were twice as likely to experience a stroke without having a prior diagnosis of a risk factor, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. This occurred at a rate of 12% for Black African individuals compared to 6% for white people, as reported by The Guardian.

Dr Eva Emmett, lead author of the study and a research fellow at King's College London, stated that the findings necessitate targeted and earlier primary prevention efforts. She suggested that current NHS health checks, which begin at age 40, might be too late for higher-risk groups who often suffer strokes at younger ages.

“Our study shows that the prevalence of pre-stroke hypertension and diabetes is higher and increasing faster in ethnic minority and lower socioeconomic groups. Together with Black people’s younger age at stroke and higher likelihood of having a stroke without a prior risk factor diagnosis, these findings call for targeted and earlier primary prevention efforts.”

Dr Eva Emmett, King's College London

Socioeconomic Factors and Access to Care

The analysis also pointed to socioeconomic disparities. Participants in manual occupations and those with lower education levels showed a higher prevalence of diabetes. Increases in diabetes diagnoses and high blood pressure rates were most pronounced in individuals with routine jobs and lower educational attainment.

Dr Maëva May, director of policy at the Stroke Association, commented that the benefits of stroke prevention are not being experienced equally across all communities. She emphasised the need for equitable access to timely care for conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes to prevent strokes.

Future Prevention Strategies

The study calls for universal improvements in cardiovascular risk detection alongside more focused prevention strategies. This could include lowering the age at which health screenings for conditions like hypertension and diabetes begin for those identified as being at higher risk.