Barbados Stroke Statistics

At the Chronic Disease Research Center, a team of researchers established the Barbados Register of Strokes (BROS) in October 2001.

Around 350 Barbadians suffered a stroke during the first year. Most of these strokes (83%) were due to blockage of a blood vessel supplying the brain. Most strokes occurred over the age of 65 and more women than men were affected.

There was a history of hypertension in 70% and one in 3 had diabetes. The highest rate of stroke was in females over 85; it was estimated that 1 in 50 women in this age group would suffer a stroke every year. Women do tend to live longer than men and the prevalence of hypertension is known to be high in this age group.

As the population grows older, stroke will become an increasingly bigger problem. Although more common in the elderly, persons as young as 24 have been registered in the BROS study.