Towards an Understanding of Racial Differences in Post-stroke Disability

Abstract

Due to the aging of the baby boomer generation, the number of stroke survivors is expected to increase from seven million to over ten million in 2030. Stroke survivorship will be particularly important for African-Americans who have a higher incidence of strokes compared to non-Hispanics whites and greater post-stroke disability. Current evidence suggests that the most prominent racial differences in post-stroke disability emerge in the post-stroke period. Further work, with a focus on modifiable factors, is needed to understand which factors in the post-stroke period lead to racial differences in post-stroke disability.