In a related editorial, the author notes that stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide, with 5.5 million deaths attributed to this cause in 2016. Deaths due to ischaemic stroke were slightly less frequent than those due to haemorrhagic stroke. Stroke was also the second most common cause of disability-adjusted life-years. The highest incidence of stroke occurred in east Asia, followed by the eastern European region, whereas the lowest rates were in central Latin America.