The Department of Health (DOH) through Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said they are monitoring Filipinos afflicted with noncommunicable diseases amid a reported surge of stroke cases during the holiday season.
“What we are keeping an eye on are the acute complications of noncommunicable diseases. These are stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and bronchial asthma,” Domingo said.
During a hospital tour by DOH last December 21, 2024, the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) reported that the number of stroke cases reached approximately 60 from July to November 2024. Additionally, there were seven recorded stroke cases before Christmas between December 1 and 20, 2024.
The East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) observed a continuous rise in stroke cases compared to the same period from December 2020 to 2023. In December 2020, EAMC recorded 188 stroke patients.
The number of patients rose to 226 in December 2021, and further increased to 247 in December 2022. In December 2023, the stroke cases reached a total of 328.
St. Luke’s Medical Center Quezon City also observed an increase of stroke cases. Based on their latest data from January to November of 2024, they discharged 399 stroke survivors, higher in comparison to 295 cases recorded in 2022, and closer to the yearend total of cases in 2023, which saw a total of 415 stroke cases.
