The 60-year-old accounting firm manager suddenly became "incoherent" and doctors warned of a "disability tsunami" that could kill 120,000 people in seven years

Chen Long, chairman of the Taiwan Stroke Society, said that the most cruel thing about stroke is not that it brings death, but that it leaves the patient "alive but paralyzed and disabled." (Photo by reporter Lin Zhiyi)

[Reporter Lin Zhiyi/Taipei Report] Stroke is a nightmare for many families. If not treated in time, even if the patient survives, he will be trapped in the dilemma of "living but paralyzed and disabled" for the rest of his life. The Taiwan Stroke Society calls on the government to face up to the structural bottlenecks of the current first aid process, try to increase the rate of patients receiving acute first aid treatment during the golden period, and target the "Stroke 888 Action Plan".

The 60-year-old accounting firm manager "Abo" is an important financial supporter of the company. However, when he was checking the accounts one afternoon, he wanted to reach for the thermos cup, but his right hand suddenly shook violently and he could not hold the cup at all. He spilled the water all over the floor. He could only utter broken words when he wanted to speak. His colleagues around him were alert and asked him to "smile, raise his hands, and say hello."

Chen Long, chairman of the Taiwan Stroke Society, pointed out that during the COVID-19 epidemic, about 14,000 people died each year in Taiwan due to the epidemic. Although the infectious disease has now faded away, the real "disability tsunami" still occurs in Taiwan every year. Cerebrovascular disease, which has long been the fourth cause of death in Taiwan, regularly takes away 12,000 lives every year and creates 17,000 patients with "long-term severe disability."

Chen Long said that the most cruel thing about stroke is not that it brings death, but that it leaves the patient "paralyzed and disabled while alive." There are approximately 45,000 new cases of ischemic stroke in Taiwan every year, and up to 50% to 60% of them will develop into severe disability. The main reason for the country's demand for long-term care has also plunged the whole family into a nightmare of long-term care costing 50 to one million yuan per year. It is estimated that between 2024 and 2030 when the government promotes the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, Taiwan will accumulate nearly 120,000 disabled people due to stroke.

Therefore, Chen Long said that in order to provide the highest level of care for stroke patients, Taiwan must face the structural bottleneck of the first aid process. Currently, the rate of stroke patients in Taiwan receiving acute emergency treatment during the golden period is only 8.5%, which is far lower than the 20% in Europe and the United States. The government should target the three high-risk groups whose risk of stroke is nearly three times higher than that of the general population, identify risk groups through adult health examinations and atrial fibrillation (AF) risk screening, actively intervene, and reduce 1/3 of the mortality rate from the source.

Chen Long also mentioned that in order to realize "the ambulance is the starting point of treatment", regulatory restrictions should be relaxed to allow rural grassroots hospitals to directly connect to the neurology department of the medical center. Through remote endorsement, it should be implemented in less than 60 minutes from door-to-door to transfer. At the same time, the "Stroke 888 Action Plan" should also be launched to achieve 80% public awareness, 80% control rate of medium risk factors, and a hospital delivery rate of 119 risk signs exceeding 8.