Black Africans in England Face 131% Higher Stroke Risk, Study Shows

Context The study comes from King’s College London, using the South London Stroke Register, a population‑based cohort that recorded every stroke in a defined area over 30 years. Researchers analysed data from roughly 333,000 residents, identifying 7,726 strokes between 1995 and 2024. While overall stroke incidence fell 34% from the late 1990s to early 2010s, it climbed 13% from 2020 to 2024, reversing earlier gains.

Key Facts Black African participants had a stroke incidence 131% higher than white participants; Black Caribbean participants showed a 100% increase. Overall, Black people in England face roughly double the stroke risk of white people.

Black African stroke survivors were 34% less likely to receive NHS follow‑up care and tended to have strokes 10‑12 years earlier than white survivors. Hypertension prevalence is up to 47% higher and diabetes up to twice as high in Black groups, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.

What It Means The lead author attributes part of the trend to Covid‑19 disruptions that limited blood‑pressure checks and medication prescribing, especially in deprived and Black communities. Structural factors such as racism, unconscious bias, and poorer housing also shape long‑term stroke risk.

Improved early detection of hypertension and diabetes, coupled with equitable post‑stroke follow‑up, could narrow the gap. Watch for forthcoming NHS equity programmes that aim to expand community‑based screening and timely care for high‑risk groups.