Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria is among EU countries with highest mortality from brain stroke

Assoc. Prof. Rosen Kalpachki
Photo: Ani Petrova, BNR

There are four times as many people dying of brain stroke in Bulgaria compared to other EU countries, according to a 2021 report by the European Commission.

In 2023, 45,000 brain stroke patients were registered in Bulgaria, of which more than 5,500 died in hospital. This was said by Assoc. Prof. Rosen Kalpachki, head of the Brain Stroke Treatment Centre at St. Anna Hospital", during an expert meeting dedicated to cardiovascular diseases and stroke. 

There are 70 neurological units in Sofia, but not all of them have "intensive, resuscitation beds" to treat patients who have had a stroke, said Assoc. Prof. Kalpachki. 

In Bulgaria the death rate from stroke is 320 people per hundred thousand population, added Assoc. Prof. Kalpachki quoted by BTA. 

In 2023, 133 hospitals declared that they treated brain strokes, and 49 of them indicated that they did one thrombolysis (one of the stroke treatments) in the year. 

According to Assoc. Prof. Kalpachki, only three percent of stroke victims in Bulgaria are treated by thrombolysis.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Yellow code for strong wind in 16 eastern and southwestern regions

On Wednesday , the lowest temperatures will be between 3 and 8°C. In the regions with strong wind it will be up to 10-12°C. In Sofia it will be around 4°C. In the western parts of the Danube Plain and the Upper Thracian Plain it will..

published on 11/25/25 7:50 PM

Drones to aid disaster and fire response in Burgas

Following a series of fires in the Burgas area last summer, including one that destroyed homes in a local villa district, the Burgas municipality has acquired high-tech drones equipped with thermal cameras, night vision, and 3D imaging . The two..

published on 11/25/25 7:01 PM

Bulgarian police break up migrant smuggling network

Illegal migrants from Syria, Iraq and Iran have been discovered in Sofia, and ten members of an organised criminal group have been arrested , Deputy City Prosecutor Desislava Petrova told reporters. Two of those arrested have been charged as the..

published on 11/25/25 6:48 PM