Primary stroke prevention and community education.

Michael Vecchione, DO  stroke Is the fourth leADIng cAuse of death in the United States. Stroke affects almost 800,000 people in the United States each year with two-thirds of events being a first occurrence. Approximately 135,000 people die from stroke each year. In 2007, four of every 10,000 people in Rhode Island died from stroke-related complications. According to the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2011 update: A Report from the AHA, Rhode Island was third lowest in stroke mortality: 35 per 100,000 population. This low rate in Rhode Island should not lend itself to complacency among health-care providers and patients. In addition to physical disability, the financial impact of stroke on patients, their families, and the healthcare system is significant.