France is a country of more than 60 million inhabitants, where indicators of health quality are favourable, with one of the longest life expectancies in the world, and one of the lowest rates of neonatal mortality. The burden of vascular diseases is smaller than in surrounding European countries of similar size (United Kingdom and Germany), even for stroke. However, the direct cost of health care provided to stroke patients is estimated between 2 and 2·5 billion Euros per year.
Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques, http://www.insee.fr, 2007.
2.
BardetJ: Rapport sur la prise en charge précoce des accidents vasculaires cérébraux. Office parlementaire d'évaluation des politiques de santé, 2007.
3.
BenatruIRouaudODurierJStable stroke incidence rates but improved case-fatality in Dijon, France, from 1985 to 2004. Stroke2006; 37:1674–9.
4.
WolfeCDGiroudMKolominsky-RabasPVariations in stroke incidence and survival in 3 areas of Europe. European Registries of Stroke (EROS) Collaboration. Stroke2000; 31:2074–9.
5.
LavalléePCLabreucheJSpielerJFJouglaEAmarencoP: Stroke and vascular mortality trends in France: 1979–2001. Neuroepidemiology2007; 29:78–82.
6.
LaunoisRGiroudMMegnigbetoACEstimating the cost-effectiveness of stroke units in France compared with conventional care. Stroke2004; 35:770–5.
7.
WolfeCDTillingKRuddAGiroudMInzitariD: Variations in care and outcome in the first year after stroke: a Western and central European perspective. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2004; 75:1702–6.
8.
Leys D, Ringelstein EB, Kaste M, Hacke W, Executive Committee of the European Stroke Initiative: Facilities available in European hospitals treating stroke patients. Stroke2007; 38:2985–91.
9.
GarciaEGuyennetHLapayreJCMoulinT: Adaptive tele-application for remote neurology diagnosis. Telemed J E Health2005; 11:692–702.
10.
LavalléePCMeseguerEAbboudHA transient ischaemic attack clinic with round-the-clock access (SOS-TIA): feasibility and effects. Lancet Neurol2007; 6:953–60.
