{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.026519337016574586, 'fraction_numerical': 0.027624309392265192, 'mean_word_length': 4.627329192546584, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
The stroke epidemic

Stroke is ranked second in the world as a cause of mortality and is the commonest cause of permanent disability in adults. In 2005, there were 5.7 million fatal strokes worldwide, and more than 1.4 million of these occurred in China. If there is no effective intervention, the global stroke death toll is expected to reach 7.8 million in 25 years’ time.1 Despite a continuing decline in stroke-related standardised mortality rates, the annual stroke mortality in Hong Kong remains consistently above 3000. In-patient care for stroke-related problems puts a heavy load on local institutions and constitutes about 5% of the bed use in Hospital Authority hospitals.2 Hong Kong’s population is rapidly ageing: about one third of our population are expected to be 60 years or older by 2050. Stroke will remain a major burden for the health care system, families, carers, and the community.