Stroke risk factors rise faster among Black Londoners
Stroke risk factors rose faster among Black African and Caribbean groups over 30 years, prompting calls to reconsider NHS screening that starts at 40.
Atlas Newsdesk ·
Stroke risk factors have climbed more quickly among Black African and Black Caribbean populations than among white groups over the past 30 years, according to researchers at King’s College London. The findings are based on an analysis of 8,500 adults recorded in the South London Stroke Register, a long-running dataset tracking stroke and related health patterns in the area.
The study focuses on two major contributors to stroke risk— hypertension and diabetes —and reports a steeper rise in these conditions among Black groups over the period examined. Researchers said the pattern is linked to a rapid escalation in metabolic conditions, which can raise the likelihood of stroke and complicate prevention if not detected early.
Undiagnosed conditions appear more common before stroke
Black African individuals were reported to be twice One of the clearest gaps highlighted by the analysis involves undiagnosed risk. Black African individuals were reported to be twice as likely to have a stroke without a prior diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes, occurring at a rate of 12% compared with 6% for white participants. Officials and clinicians generally treat early detection of high blood pressure and diabetes as central to preventing first-time strokes. The data in this study points to a group-level challenge: risk factors may be developing quickly while remaining unrecorded until a stroke occurs. Diabetes and high blood pressure increased sharply over time The study describes a large change in diabetes prevalence among Black African participants across the time periods it examined. Diabetes prevalence rose from 21% in 1995–2004 to 41% in 2015–2024, according to the researchers.
High blood pressure is currently 47% more prevalent
Hypertension was also reported to be more common in Black groups relative to white cohorts. High blood pressure is currently 47% more prevalent in Black African individuals and 29% more prevalent in Black Caribbean individuals than in white groups, the study found.
Socioeconomic patterns add to the disparity
The research also links stroke-related metabolic risk to socioeconomic conditions. Diabetes prevalence was reported to be 23% higher among people in manual occupations, a factor the researchers said can intensify existing health inequalities when combined with faster-rising risk in specific communities. While the study is focused on South London, the findings raise questions for health systems about whether prevention approaches are reaching groups with elevated and rapidly rising risk. The researchers framed this as a widening inequality issue, with implications for how early risk is detected and managed.