The incidence of stroke refers to the number of new cases occurring in a specific population during a certain time period, while prevalence indicates the total number of cases, both new and pre-existing, at a given point in time. Globally, stroke incidence varies widely, with higher rates observed in low- and middle-income countries. The global annual incidence of stroke is estimated to be around 12.2 million, with a prevalence of over 101 million individuals living with the condition.
