A new approach to stroke prevention in Russia

Abstract

Considerable burden of stroke along with continuously increasing cost of medical help to stroke patients in Russia prompt to search for new and more efficient strategies for stroke prevention. These strategies should encompass improvement of people’s awareness of stroke symptoms and risk factors, as well as accessible information on how to modify the risk factors. Here we present the Stroke Riskometer™ app for smartphones which fulfills the abovementioned criteria. This tool has been developed based on research data and is acknowledged by the international medical community. Russian version is also available. The app allows to determine personal risk of stroke in adults within the next 5 to 10 years; it also helps to reveal personal risk factors for stroke and appropriate ways to mitigate these factors. We believe that wide use of this app in Russia will help to significantly reduce incidence of stroke.