Co-care scheme may help prevent 9% of stroke, heart failure cases in next decade

About 9 per cent of stroke and heart failure cases may be prevented in Hong Kong over the next decade through a government co-care scheme, according to a university projection.

Launched in 2023, the Chronic Disease Co-care Scheme has enrolled over 200,000 residents as of January. Originally a pilot scheme, it was regularised in March, with around 40 per cent of those who completed screening diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or pre-diabetes.

“The co-care scheme effectively enables individuals who have not yet been diagnosed … to receive early management from a multidisciplinary team to comprehensively control cardiovascular risks,” said William Wong Chi-wai, clinical professor and chairman of the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) department of family medicine and primary care.