According to Dr. Jesus Porta-Etessam, president of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), approximately 90% of strokes could be prevented through brain-healthy lifestyle habits and the management of modifiable risk factors. He stated this during an event organized by the SEN and the Freno al Ictus Foundation, in collaboration with the SEN”s Cerebrovascular Diseases Study Group.
Dr. Porta-Etessam warned that if current trends continue, as many as 25% of Spaniards may experience a stroke in their lifetime. He emphasized the critical role of prevention and health education starting from early ages.
The event coincided with World Stroke Day, celebrated on a Wednesday, where Dr. Maria del Mar Freijo Guerrero, a neurologist at the Hospital Universitario de Cruces in Bilbao, highlighted the significant social impact of strokes in Spain. Strokes account for nearly 120,000 new cases annually, making it the leading cause of death among women and the primary cause of acquired disability in adults. Although mortality rates have declined over the past two decades due to therapeutic advancements such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy, the number of individuals living with chronic sequelae is rising due to an aging population and increased survival rates.
Dr. Freijo Guerrero projected that by 2050, the incidence of strokes could rise by 81%, with prevalence increasing by 71%, particularly affecting women over 80 and men aged 70 to 79. Key factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles remain critical. Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels could potentially reduce stroke incidence by up to 47% and 20%, respectively. Prevention, adherence to treatment, and technological innovation will be vital in reversing this trend and improving patient quality of life.
Furthermore, Dr. Freijo Guerrero stressed the importance of addressing life after a stroke, highlighting the need for enhanced rehabilitation, socio-health support, and therapeutic adherence as essential pillars to reduce disability and prevent recurrences. Coordinated follow-up among primary care providers, neurologists, and nursing staff is crucial to ensuring that patients understand and maintain long-term care.
Purificacion Enguix Bou, a neurology care nurse at Hospital La Fe in Valencia and a member of the GENSEDENE group of the Spanish Society of Neurological Nursing, discussed the essential role of nurses in the early detection of strokes and ongoing care for survivors. Enguix emphasized that nursing care directly impacts the recovery trajectory of stroke patients, reducing sequelae and mortality. Trained nursing staff specializing in cerebrovascular diseases are vital assets in stroke units, tasked with detecting and preventing complications during the subacute phase.
Experts at the event also underscored the necessity of reinforcing continuity of care, increasing psychosocial support for patients and caregivers, and fostering a more inclusive society that recognizes the invisible consequences of strokes. Claudia Trujillo, a social worker responsible for inclusion projects at the Freno al Ictus Foundation, highlighted the importance of connecting healthcare and social systems to ensure quality continuity of care that meets patients” needs at all stages of the disease.
In addition, Dr. Patricia Simal, a neurologist from the Cerebrovascular Pathology Unit at Hospital Universitario Clinico San Carlos in Madrid, and scientific coordinator of the National Health System”s Stroke Strategy, emphasized the value of learning from patient experiences. She noted that strokes can affect anyone, and behind each case lies a personal story, not just a diagnosis. Dialogue in these contexts is essential for constructing a more coordinated, comprehensive, and humane approach to care.
The event also featured Julio Agredano Lozano, president of the Freno al Ictus Foundation, who stressed the importance of collaboration among professionals, patients, families, and institutions to provide a comprehensive response to the aftermath of strokes. Agredano pointed out that addressing strokes and their impacts requires an integrated approach involving neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and neuropsychologists, in addition to pharmacological treatments, supportive technologies, and necessary surgeries.
Lastly, Yolanda Torosio, a dancer, actress, and stroke survivor, shared her personal journey with stroke sequelae, emphasizing the role of art and dance in her rehabilitation process. Torosio reflected on her learning experience, stating, “I realized that the universe multiplies whatever you focus on, so I chose to look at what I have rather than what I lack. The most valuable things are often the simplest. Gratitude transforms and allows you to live more authentically. Even from the most bitter lemon, you can make the best lemonade. I stopped identifying with who I thought I was to embrace that little girl who dreamed of dancing and continue believing in all that is yet to come.”
