Stroke

Number of patients consulting

The graph below shows the estimated number of patients in Scotland (per 1,000 registered with a practice) who consulted either a GP or practice-employed nurse for stroke (including Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks (TIAs)) at least once in the year ending 31 March 2008, by gender and age group. The chart shows that the number of patients consulting for stroke/TIA increased with age and that in most age groups more males than females (relative to numbers registered) consulted their practice for this condition. In absolute terms, in the highest age groups (65-74 and 75+) more females consulted for this condition than males, which is due to the longer life expectancy of females and hence the predominance of females in this age group.

All estimates are standardised by deprivation to account for any differences between the PTI sample population and the Scottish practice population in levels of deprivation. These figures and comparable figures for 2003/04 to 2006/07 are also provided in tabular format in an Excel document  (70KB).

Stroke¹ - estimated number of patients in Scotland consulting a GP or practice nurse at least once in the financial year 2007/08 ^{2, 3} per 1,000 patients registered
by gender and age group

¹ Based on ISD's Read Code Grouping (RCG) 'Stroke' and 'Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks  & related syndromes'.
² Based on 47 PTI practices that submitted complete GP and practice nurse data for the year ending 31 March 2008. Rates are standardised by deprivation.
³ Population source: Community Health Index (CHI) record, as at 30 September 2007.

Note: Due to improvements made to the statistical model used to calculate PTI estimates, figures shown here are not strictly comparable to these provided prior to 31 March 2009.  See the Note of Revisions for further information.

Source: Practice Team Information (PTI), ISD Scotland (last updated 31 March 2009)

Number of consultations

The chart below shows the estimated numbers of consultations in Scotland for stroke (including Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks (TIAs)) for the five financial years 2003/04 to 2007/08, by staff discipline. Figures are standardised by age, sex and deprivation to account for any differences in these characteristics between the PTI sample population and the Scottish practice population. These figures plus additional detail are also provided in tabular format in an Excel document   (20KB).

The chart shows that the estimated numbers of contacts with a GP for Stroke/TIA, after a steep decline over the first few years, have become fairly stable. The numbers of practice nurse contacts increased over the first four years but dropped slightly from 2006/07 to 2007/08 (however this difference was not statistically significant). In the most recent years the numbers of GP contacts were very similar to the numbers for practice nurses. Based on 2003/04 to 2005/06 data, it appears that district nurses also have a very significant role to play in the providing care for stroke/TIA patients.

Stroke¹ - estimated number of consultations in Scotland in the financial years 2003/04 to 2007/08 ^{2, 3} 
by staff discipline

* Health visitor and district nurse data are not available from the financial year 2006/07 onwards.
¹ Based on ISD's Read Code Grouping (RCG) 'Stroke' and 'Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks  & related syndromes'.
² Based on 59, 53, 51, 49 and 47 PTI practices that submitted complete data for the years ending 31 March 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Figures are standardised by age, gender and deprivation.
³ Population source: Community Health Index (CHI) record, as at 30 September 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Note: Due to improvements made to the statistical model used to calculate PTI estimates for all years and the larger number of practices now included in the PTI sample for the years 2003/04 to 2005/06, figures shown here are not strictly comparable to these provided prior to 31 March 2009.  See the Note of Revisions for further information.

Source: Practice Team Information  (PTI), ISD Scotland (31 March 2009)