Epidemiology of Stroke in Vietnam

Stroke is a significant public health concern in Vietnam due to a high incidence and prevalence of death and disability in the population. Since early 2008 in Vietnam, cerebrovascular diseases have been a major concern by both the Vietnam Association of Cardiology and the Vietnam Association of Neurology. The Vietnam Association of Stroke was established in 2008 in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Neurology and support from World Stroke Organization (WSO). Since then, stroke has been a priority area for many hospitals and clinicians. The first stroke education program in Vietnam ran from 2008 to 2011, when 8596 doctors were trained and received the certificate signed by the WSO and the Vietnam Ministry of Health. Scientific Conferences on stroke in Vietnam are organized annually for stroke scientists and doctors and abstracts are published in the Vietnamese edition of the International Journal of Stroke. Studies on stroke epidemiology in Vietnam have been limited. This chapter reviews these studies identifying the most important issues relevant to clinicians, health administrators, and politicians.