Stroke in Brazil: prevalence, activity limitations, access to healthcare, and physiotherapeutic treatment.

Background:  Stroke remains a public health problem, reported as the third cause of disability. Among survivors, the ability to perform usual daily activities may be reduced, requiring rehabilitation.

Objective:  To investigate the prevalence of self-reported stroke, the accessibility of healthcare, and the degree and percentage of patients with limitations in usual activities who are unassisted by physiotherapeutic treatment in different regions of the country.

Methods:  This cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2019 National Health Survey. Participants aged 15 years or older from all five geographic regions of Brazil who reported a diagnosis of stroke were included. The data were analyzed using sample weighting and expressed as estimates along with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results:  The national prevalence of self-reported stroke in Brazil was 1.9% (95%CI 1.7-2.0), equivalent to 1,975 individuals with diagnosis. Of these, 50.2% reported limitations in their daily activities, and more than half (54.6%) had regular follow-ups with healthcare professionals. However, only 24.6% reported having access to rehabilitation, while 73.4% of individuals with activity limitations received no physiotherapeutic treatment.

Conclusion:  The prevalence of' self-reported stroke in the Brazilian population was 1.9%, with more than half experiencing limitations in their activities. While more than half of the stroke patients underwent follow-ups from a health professional, only ¼ of them reported having access to rehabilitation. Government interventions are necessary to ensure effective access to healthcare, including rehabilitation for the Brazilian population.