Management of stroke: acute, rehabilitation and long-term care.

Stroke is the major cause of disability in adults, resulting in much morbidity and mortality in the west. Each year 120,000 people will suffer their first stroke with a further 40,000 suffering a recurrent stroke and 40,000 a transient ischaemic attack. The prevalence rises from 2/1000 population to 2/100 in those over 85 years of age. Consequently stroke is seen as a problem of the elderly.