ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A803 STROKE EPIDEMIOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE BURDEN IN THE ANDIJAN REGION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 2024 AND THE FIRST HALF OF 2025

Abstract Background and aims Stroke represents a major public health challenge due to its high mortality, disability burden, and substantial demand on healthcare resources. Regional epidemiological assessments are essential for evaluating health service performance and informing targeted prevention strategies. Methods A retrospective analysis of hospital-based administrative data was conducted in the Andijan region. All patients admitted with cerebrovascular diseases during 2024 and the first six months of 2025 were included. Stroke subtypes, in-hospital mortality, surgical activity, total bed-days, and mean length of hospital stay were analyzed to assess trends in disease burden and healthcare utilization. Results In 2024, 20,615 patients with cerebrovascular diseases were hospitalized, including 2,875 hemorrhagic and 11,371 ischemic strokes. Hemorrhagic stroke was associated with markedly higher in-hospital mortality (20.2%) compared with ischemic stroke (6.3%) and a longer mean hospital stay (6.8 vs. 5.7 days). Total bed-day utilization was substantially higher for ischemic stroke due to its greater prevalence. During the first half of 2025, 16,802 patients were admitted with cerebrovascular pathology, including 2,398 hemorrhagic and 9,205 ischemic strokes. Mortality remained high for hemorrhagic stroke (19.1%), while ischemic stroke mortality was 5.9%. Mean length of stay increased for both subtypes (7.3 and 6.2 days, respectively). Despite a reduction in absolute admissions, the proportional distribution of stroke subtypes and outcome measures remained stable. Conclusions Stroke continues to impose a significant and persistent burden on healthcare services in the Andijan region, particularly due to high mortality and prolonged hospitalization in hemorrhagic stroke. These findings highlight the need for population-based prevention, optimized stroke pathways, and improved resource allocation