New Zealanders aged 25 have a one-in-four chance of suffering a stroke in their lifetime - the second-highest lifetime risk in the developed world, according to a new study.
Headed by Auckland University of Technology Professor Valery Feigin, the report showed New Zealanders from 25-years-old onwards had a 25 per cent chance of having a stroke in their lifetime, sitting behind Finland - who hold the top spot with 29.3 per cent.
Feigin said healthcare systems needed to focus on stroke prevention at a much earlier age than 40, which was how it currently operates.
"Stroke is getting younger… young adults need to think about long-term health risks," he said.
The high risk could be related to the Māori and Pacific population in New Zealand, who had double the risk of stroke compared to Europeans, Feigin said.
Feigin said young adults could reduce their risk of a stroke by eating healthier, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, exercising more and maintaining a healthy weight.
Researchers used data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) to calculate the "risk score" for entire populations, in order to help better guide the health policy in this field. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.