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After decades of progress, ischemic stroke mortality in the U.S. has stalled. A new analysis of Global Burden of Disease data shows the death rate plateaued in the mid-2010s and has even ticked slightly upward, while the number of people living with the condition keeps climbing. High blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar remain the top drivers of disability.
Progress on ischemic stroke mortality in the U.S. has hit a wall. After a dramatic decline from 1990 onward, the age-standardized death rate plateaued in the mid-2010s and has nudged slightly upward since — even as the number of Americans living with the condition continues to rise. Researchers presented these findings at the American Neurological Association's 151st annual conference, drawing on 2023 Global Burden of Disease data.
The picture is especially concerning in the Southeast, where states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana carry the heaviest stroke burden. Meanwhile, stroke incidence among young adults has nearly doubled since 1990 — a troubling trend that signals the problem is far from resolved.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Declining incidence doesn't mean the fight is won — more people are living with stroke's long-term consequences. Experts say the path forward lies in tightening blood pressure control, improving medication compliance, and expanding community-based rehabilitation, especially in high-burden Southern states.
