Stroke and migraine are leading neurological conditions on a global scale

Abstract

Neurological disorders are now being more widely recognized as significant contributors to mortality and disability on a global scale. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016 provided the most comprehensive and up-to-date estimates of the global, regional, and national burden from neurological disorders. According to the findings of the study, the two largest contributors of neurological DALYs (disability-adjusted life-years) were stroke (42·2% [38·6–46·1]), migraine (16·3% [11·7–20·8]). Stroke ranked first globally among neurological disorders in terms of age-standardised DALY rates in 19 of 21 world regions except in Australasia and Western Europe. Migraine ranked first in Australasia and Western Europe. Stroke burden rapidly increased up to the age of about 80 years, and was the dominant cause of neurological burden between ages 60 and 84 years, more so in males than females. Migraine and tension-type headaches were large contributors in young and middle-aged adults, with much higher numbers in females than males