Comorbidity Neurology · Apr 2026

The Prevalence of Stroke in the Russian Federation (According to Population Surveys from 2003–2023): A Review

By Kotov S, Kakorina EP, Samorodskaya IV

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION. The prevalence of stroke patients in the population is an important parameter that makes it possible to plan the burden on the healthcare system, determine the need for outpatient care and rehabilitation measures for such patients. However, this indicator is not reflected in the main materials of medical statistics. AIM. Using data from the national RLMS-HSE surveys of the Russian population, to examine the dynamics (for 2003, 2013, and 2023) of stroke prevalence and key risk factors (diabetes, myocardial infarction, smoking, hypertension, and multimorbidity) depending on the age and sex composition of the population. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Data from the longitudinal household survey "Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE)". Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 (IBM Company). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Percentage of respondents who answered affirmatively to the question "Did a doctor diagnose you with stroke (cerebral hemorrhage)?" was 2.1 % in 2003, 2.5 % in 2013 and 2.4 % in 2023. Taking into account age, no significant changes in the prevalence of stroke were found. The average age of respondents with a positive answer to the question about stroke in 2003, 2013 and 2023 was statistically significantly higher by 20 or more years than that of those with a negative answer (66.0 ± 12.0 and 44.5 ± 17.6, 66.1 ± 11.7 and 45.8 ± 17.4, 69.9 ± 12.1 and 49.3 ± 76.5 years, respectively, all – p < 0.001). In 2003 and 2013, people aged 45–60 accounted for 23 % and 21 % of all cases, respectively; in 2023, this figure was 10.8 % (9.6 % among women and 12.2 % among men). The proportion of people aged 75 and older increased from 25.2 % in 2003 to 34.2 % in 2023 (29 % among women and 26 % among men). The incidence of stroke combined with hypertension and diabetes increased from 15 % to 29 %. CONCLUSION. The increase in the proportion of elderly people with stroke and multiple chronic diseases in the population demonstrates both the success of healthcare and new challenges for both the healthcare system and social protection. KEYWORDS: stroke, cerebrovascular accident, comorbidity, surveys

doi.org/10.62505/3034-185x-2026-3-1-21-31Open accessPopulations