抄録
Stroke is both a leading cause of death and a major cause of severe neurologic disability in Korea. According to the records of the National Health Insurance Corporation and the Korea National Statistical Office, 64.7% of stroke cases were due to cerebral infarction, and 35.3% to cerebral hemorrhage in 2000; and the stroke mortality rate was 72.9 per 100, 000 of the population per annum.
We have two unique features in terms of stroke management in Korea, namely, the presence of traditional herbal medicine and a complicated medical referral system. Historically traditional oriental medicine has been the first-line of stroke management, but after the introduction of western medicine its position has been gradually eroded. In Korea, the referral of stroke patients tends to be influenced by the initial presumptive diagnosis and the level of consciousness of the patients. Alert patients with ischemic stroke are apt to go to an oriental-medicine hospital, and hemorrhagic stroke patients or stuporous or comatose patients tend to be referred to a western-medicine hospital. In addition, our complex medical referral system has often resulted in delayed arrival at appropriate medical centers, and has contributed to mortality and morbidity rates. Intense public education is required to provide the public with more information about stroke. The introduction of a systematic medical referral system is also imperative for maximizing the effectiveness of stroke management in Korea.
