Stroke awareness in Vietnam: Importance of the golden hour

Vietnam records approximately 222,000 stroke cases annually, averaging about 500 cases per day. While the average age of patients is 65, there is a growing trend of younger patients under 45, driven by factors such as obesity, smoking, and sedentary lifestyles.

Medical experts emphasize the critical importance of the “golden hour” for treatment. Currently, only about 23.2% of patients in Vietnam reach medical facilities within the first 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and only 20% are transported via professional emergency systems. Delaying treatment with traditional methods like skin scraping or self-medication can lead to severe complications or death.

To recognize a stroke, health professionals recommend the FAST principle: observing facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and the urgent need for time-sensitive medical intervention.