Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Apr 28:17:11795735251337605.
doi: 10.1177/11795735251337605. eCollection 2025.

Current Snapshots on Stroke Prevention and Control and More Proactive National Strategies Against It in China

Bin Jiang  1   2
Affiliations

Current Snapshots on Stroke Prevention and Control and More Proactive National Strategies Against It in China

Bin Jiang. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis. .

Abstract

Background and purpose: Stroke has become a major public health problem. This paper aims to briefly review the current epidemiological characteristics, preliminary achievements, and national action strategies related to stroke prevention and control in China.

Methods: English and Chinese literature were searched on stroke epidemiological characteristics and more proactive strategies for its prevention and control in China. Potential papers related to this topic were identified from PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Wanfang Database, SINOMED, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, as well as the annual reports and websites of the People's Daily, the State Council, and the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China.

Results: Stroke has been ranked among the top three causes of death in China, and has become a public health problem endangering people's health. High rates of incidence, mortality, and disability bring a heavy burden to stroke patients, families, and society. With China's economic development, urbanization, and population aging, the prevalence and incidence of stroke are still rising. Although some progress has been made in specialized stroke prevention and treatment in China, there is still much room for improvement. Curbing increasing stroke due to increased prevalence and suboptimal control of risk factors and unhealthy lifestyles is no longer just the efforts of medical service institutions. It still requires a more proactive national strategy and general mobilization of the whole people. Increased prevalence of stroke, survivors' unfavorable outcomes, and suboptimal rehabilitation also need specialized stroke care and the perfect Hierarchical Medical System within the regional medical consortium in China.

Conclusions: The current situation of stroke prevention and treatment is still very serious in China. In the future, the stroke prevention and treatment model will change from passive stroke treatment and risk factor control to a more proactive prevention model of health factor management.

Keywords: China; epidemiology; management; national prevention and control strategy; organized stroke care; primary prevention; rehabilitation; secondary prevention; stroke; stroke prevention and control system; treatment.

Plain language summary

Stroke prevention and treatment in China is a critical public health priority due to the high prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability rates associated with strokes. Strokes are a leading cause of death and long-term impairment, placing a significant burden on individuals and the healthcare system. To address this issue, China has made strides in improving stroke care through the establishment of specialized stroke centers, the integration of traditional non-drug Chinese medicine into treatment plans, and efforts to shorten emergency response times for acute cases. Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Rural areas often lack access to high-quality healthcare services, leading to disparities in stroke care between urban and rural regions. Additionally, hypertension, a major risk factor for strokes, is not always well managed across the population. Preventing strokes through lifestyle changes and health education remains a key focus, as does raising public awareness about the risks and signs of strokes. The Chinese government has implemented national strategies to promote “Healthy China,” including initiatives aimed at reducing disabilities caused by strokes by 2025. These efforts emphasize improving healthcare systems, expanding access to specialized care, and fostering community involvement in stroke prevention and early intervention. Looking ahead, advancements in medical treatments, better resource allocation, and increased public education are expected to improve outcomes for stroke patients. However, addressing rural-urban disparities and ensuring consistent management of risk factors like hypertension will be crucial for long-term success. Overall, a multifaceted approach—combining medical innovation with community engagement—is essential to reducing the impact of strokes in China.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Similar articles

  • Beyond the black stump: rapid reviews of health research issues affecting regional, rural and remote Australia.
    Osborne SR, Alston LV, Bolton KA, Whelan J, Reeve E, Wong Shee A, Browne J, Walker T, Versace VL, Allender S, Nichols M, Backholer K, Goodwin N, Lewis S, Dalton H, Prael G, Curtin M, Brooks R, Verdon S, Crockett J, Hodgins G, Walsh S, Lyle DM, Thompson SC, Browne LJ, Knight S, Pit SW, Jones M, Gillam MH, Leach MJ, Gonzalez-Chica DA, Muyambi K, Eshetie T, Tran K, May E, Lieschke G, Parker V, Smith A, Hayes C, Dunlop AJ, Rajappa H, White R, Oakley P, Holliday S. Osborne SR, et al. Med J Aust. 2020 Dec;213 Suppl 11:S3-S32.e1. doi: 10.5694/mja2.50881. Med J Aust. 2020. PMID: 33314144
  • A scoping review of stroke services within the Philippines.
    Logan A, Faeldon L, Kent B, Ong A, Marsden J. Logan A, et al. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Aug 30;24(1):1006. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11334-z. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024. PMID: 39215352 Free PMC article.
  • The future of Cochrane Neonatal.
    Soll RF, Ovelman C, McGuire W. Soll RF, et al. Early Hum Dev. 2020 Nov;150:105191. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105191. Epub 2020 Sep 12. Early Hum Dev. 2020. PMID: 33036834
  • Toward the development of a vibrant, super-aged society: The future of medicine and society in Japan.
    Iijima K, Arai H, Akishita M, Endo T, Ogasawara K, Kashihara N, Hayashi YK, Yumura W, Yokode M, Ouchi Y. Iijima K, et al. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2021 Aug;21(8):601-613. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14201. Epub 2021 Jul 1. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2021. PMID: 34212470
  • China stroke surveillance report 2021.
    Tu WJ, Wang LD; Special Writing Group of China Stroke Surveillance Report. Tu WJ, et al. Mil Med Res. 2023 Jul 19;10(1):33. doi: 10.1186/s40779-023-00463-x. Mil Med Res. 2023. PMID: 37468952 Free PMC article. Review.
See all similar articles

References

    1. Ma Q, Li R, Wang L, et al. Temporal trend and attributable risk factors of stroke burden in China, 1990-2019: an analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019. Lancet Public Health. 2021;6:e897-e906. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wang YJ, Li ZX, Gu HQ, et al. China stroke statistics: an update on the 2019 report from the national center for healthcare quality management in neurological diseases, China national clinical research center for neurological diseases, the Chinese stroke association, national center for chronic and non-communicable disease control and prevention, Chinese center for disease control and prevention and institute for global neuroscience and stroke collaborations. Stroke Vasc Neurol. 2022;7(5):415-450. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Wang W, Jiang B, Sun H, et al. Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of stroke in China: results from a nationwide population-based survey of 480 687 adults. Circulation. 2017;135(8):759-771. - PubMed
    1. Wang J, Bai L, Shi M, et al. Trends in age of first-ever stroke following increased incidence and life expectancy in a low income Chinese population. Stroke. 2016;47(4):929-935. - PubMed
    1. Chung B, Wong V. Pediatric stroke among Hong Kong Chinese subjects. Pediatrics. 2004;114(2):e206-e212. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources