A major multi-institutional study has found that one in four patients who suffer an initial stroke dies within five years. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, June 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A major multi-institutional study in South Korea has found that one in four patients who suffer an initial stroke dies within five years, while approximately one in six experiences a recurrence of the condition during the same period.
The findings, released Monday, come from the Korea Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation (KOSCO) study, a long-term prospective cohort research project led by Professor Kim Yeon-hee and Dr. Han Joon-hee of Samsung Medical Center in collaboration with eight other university hospitals across the country. The study was supported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Tracking 10,636 patients who experienced a first-ever stroke, the researchers found that the five-year cumulative mortality rate was 25.2%, while the recurrence rate stood at 15.5%.
The study, titled “Five-Year Survival and Recurrence in Korean First-Time Stroke Patients: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study,” also identified two critical, medically manageable factors that significantly affect long-term survival: prevention of pneumonia during hospitalization and early, intensive rehabilitation therapy.
“These two factors can drastically alter the prognosis for stroke patients,” the researchers noted, emphasizing that healthcare policies should prioritize early intervention in both areas.
The implications are particularly urgent as South Korea rapidly transitions into a super-aged society, with stroke remaining one of the nation’s leading causes of death and long-term disability.
The research team underscored the importance of system-wide support for post-stroke care, calling for more proactive management of complications and robust rehabilitation infrastructure.
“This study offers a concrete, data-driven direction for improving survival outcomes in stroke patients,” the researchers said, adding that it provides a crucial foundation for shaping future public health and clinical strategies.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
