MAASTRICHT, Netherlands, May 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A new study presented today at the European Stroke Organization (ESOC) Conference 2026 shows that after decades of decline, the incidence of stroke is increasing again, driven by higher rates in some ethnic minority populations and concentrated among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
These findings reflect broader trends observed in diverse urban populations internationally, pointing to growing health inequalities and highlighting an urgent need to improve the uptake of cardiovascular risk programs across all socioeconomic and ethnic groups.
This 30-year analysis looked at how the risk of having a stroke varied across different ethnic and socio-economic groups within a population of 333,000 people in south London, 7,726 of whom had a stroke. After a decrease of 34% between 1995-1999 and 2010-2014 (from 198 to 131 cases per 100,000 people), the risk of stroke increased by 13% in 2020-2024.
Although overall trends have initially improved, the recent rise has not been evenly distributed. In 2020-2024, the incidence of stroke was more than twice as high in black Africa (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 2.31; 95% CI 2.03 to 2.62) and Black Caribbean (IRR 2.00; 95% CI 1.73 to 2.31) compared to the White population.
Rates remained consistently higher in these groups throughout the study period, with the highest incidence observed among those experiencing socioeconomic deprivation.
Compared to white participants, black African and black Caribbean populations were more likely to have high blood pressure (47% and 29% higher prevalence, respectively) and diabetes (92% and 123% higher, respectively), both of which increase the risk of stroke. Notably, 12% of black African patients had no risk factors diagnosed before the stroke, compared to 6.3% of white patients, suggesting gaps in early detection.
Ethnic inequalities were greater for intracerebral hemorrhage, a serious and often fatal stroke subtype, with disparities between black African, black Caribbean, and white populations more pronounced than for other stroke subtypes.
Lead researcher Dr Camila Pantoja-Ruiz from King’s College London said these inequalities persisted even after adjusting for clinical severity, socio-economic status and other clinical factors. Additional analyzes found that Black stroke survivors, particularly Black African survivors, were less likely to receive timely follow-up care, with Black African survivors being 34% less likely to be followed up.
Additionally, black African populations were found to experience a stroke on average approximately 10 to 12 years earlier than white populations. These results highlight the need for earlier prevention and targeted interventions.
SOURCEESOC 2026
