Abstract 068: Africa's Footprints in Global Stroke Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

The stroke burden is sharply rising in low‐income countries. Recent reports show nearly five million stroke‐related deaths and about 92 million disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs) in these regions, compared to two million deaths and 22 million DALYs in high‐income areas. While global stroke mortality rates have decreased from 1990 to 2016 due to improved treatments and care in high‐income countries, Africa has seen little progress, highlighting gaps in healthcare improvements. Approximately 70% of stroke deaths and 87% of stroke‐related disabilities occur in low‐ and middle‐income countries, especially in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This gap is also reflected in higher stroke incidence and mortality among African Americans, who face nearly a 50% greater risk of stroke and a 70% higher risk of death from it compared to non‐Hispanic Whites. Despite Africa's 1.4 billion people, stroke research is scarce, with less than 3% of clinical trials conducted there.