The global burden of stroke attributable to high alcohol use from 1990 to 2021: An analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021

Global stroke mortality attributable to high alcohol use declined significantly from 1990 to 2021, reflecting progress in prevention and acute care. However, minimal improvement in disability burden reveals critical gaps in long-term management and rehabilitation, creating a "survival-disability paradox." Profound disparities persist across genders, regions, SDI levels, and stroke subtypes. Targeted policies addressing excessive alcohol consumption, tailored to regional contexts and focused on both prevention and comprehensive post-stroke care, are urgently needed, particularly in low-middle SDI regions and Southeast Asia, to mitigate disability and health inequities.