RIVERSIDE, Calif. Sept. 16, 2024 — When someone has a stroke, every second counts. Identifying the symptoms and calling 911 quickly can make the difference between life and death or long-term disability. According to American Stroke Association stroke survey data, only 39% of Hispanic-Latino consumers said they were familiar with the English stroke warning sign acronym, F.A.S.T. (F: Face drooping, A: Arm weakness, S: Speech difficulties and T: Time), and only 42% could correctly name two stroke warning signs unaided.
To help close the gap between knowledge and action, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, and Cardenas Markets Foundation are launching the R.Á.P.I.D.O. campaign, a culturally relevant Spanish-language campaign to raise awareness among Spanish-dominant audiences in the Inland Empire around the use and understanding of R.Á.P.I.D.O., a Spanish acronym for stroke warning signs that can help save lives. Cardenas Markets Foundation will help educate its shoppers about R.Á.P.I.D.O through a multifaceted approach, including targeted in-store education, accessible resources and community engagement, as well as R.Á.P.I.D.O. messaging internally to their employee force.
" R.Á.P.I.D.O. is a tool that can help save lives," said Marisa Kutansky, Senior Communications Director for Heritage Grocers Group. “We are pleased to partner with the American Heart Association and are committed to doing all we can to raise awareness of common stroke symptoms.”
Hispanic-Latino adults in the U.S. have a higher risk of stroke due to unmanaged risk factors, limited access to health care, lower health literacy rates, cultural barriers and socioeconomic determinants of health.[1] Hispanic-Latino stroke patients also have longer delay times to hospital arrival than non-Hispanic stroke patients[2], greater stroke severity[3] and poorer outcomes following stroke[4]. The R.Á.P.I.D.O. campaign addresses health disparities and ultimately improves stroke outcomes in the Hispanic-Latino community. The acronym is constructed to teach the five warning signs of stroke and the need to call 911 for quick medical response.
Though this campaign which will kick off in September for Hispanic Heritage Month, the Association and Cardenas Markets Foundation is working to empower the Hispanic-Latino community to learn the stroke warning signs and what to do using the R.Á.P.I.D.O acronym. This approach considers the community's unique cultural and linguistic needs (Spanish and Spanglish), facilitating better comprehension and response to stroke symptoms. The easy-to-remember acronym stands for:
R - Rostro caído (Face drooping)
Á - Alteración del equilibrio (Loss of Balance, or Lack of Coordination)
P - Pérdida de fuerza en el brazo (Arm weakness)
I - Impedimento visual repentino (Sudden vision difficulty)
D - Dificultad para hablar (Slurred or Strange Speech)
O - Obtén ayuda, llama al 911 (Get help, call 911)
Projections show that by 2030, the prevalence of stroke among Hispanic men will increase by 29%.[5] The Association’s adoption and promotion of R.Á.P.I.D.O represents significant steps in addressing the lack of awareness of the increased risk of stroke faced by Hispanic-Latino people in the U.S., a group already disproportionately impacted.
“The research to identify which Spanish acronym worked best for the Hispanic-Latino community was critical because the acronym reminds people what to look for and to ‘act fast’ when they are having a stroke or see someone having one. These symptoms are sudden and must be recognized quickly for the person to receive the appropriate treatment as soon as possible,” said American Heart Association Inland Empire/Orange County Board President, Pranav M. Patel, M.D., Chief, Division of Cardiology, UC Irvine.
Achieving health equity requires a multifaceted approach, including targeted education, accessible resources and community engagement. A catchy jingle that helps people memorize R.Á.P.I.D.O and social and digital assets (that resonate with bilingual and Spanish-Speakers) have also been developed to raise awareness about stroke and the importance of timely response within the Hispanic-Latino community.
By leveraging the cultural relevance of R.Á.P.I.D.O. and spreading awareness about stroke prevention within the Hispanic-Latino community, the Association, along with individuals, health care professionals, community organizations and more, aims to increase knowledge of stroke signs, symptoms, immediate management and modifiable risk factors of stroke, helping bridge the gap in stroke disparities and work towards achieving health equity for all people.
[6] For more information about R.A.P.I.D.O and stroke awareness, visit www.stroke.org/rapido.
About the American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. Connect with us on stroke.org, Facebook, X, or by calling 1-888-4STROKE.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Daniel Ruacho: 480-773-2355. daniel.ruacho@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
[2] Jones E, Kumar A, Lopez-Rivera V, et al. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Functional Outcome after Thrombectomy: A Cohort Study of an Integrated Stroke Network. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Off J Natl Stroke Assoc. 2021;30(12):106131. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106131
[3] . Bosch PR, Karmarkar AM, Roy I, Fehnel CR, Burke RE, Kumar A. Association of Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligibility and Race and Ethnicity With Ischemic Stroke Severity. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e224596. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.4596
[4] Jones E, Kumar A, Lopez-Rivera V, et al. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Functional Outcome after Thrombectomy: A Cohort Study of an Integrated Stroke Network. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Off J Natl Stroke Assoc., 2021;30 (12):106131. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106131, Jones EM, Okpala M, Zhang X, et al. Racial disparities in post-stroke functional outcomes in young patients with ischemic stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Off J Natl Stroke Assoc. 2020;29(8):104987. doi:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2020.104987, Burks JD, Chen SH, Luther EM, et al. Effect of Hispanic Status in Mechanical Thrombectomy Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke: Insights From STAR. Stroke. 2021;52(11):e715-e719. doi:10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033326