Medical management in patients following stroke and transitory ischemic attack: a comparison between men and women.
OBJECTIVE
Differences between men and women in management and outcome following cerebrovascular events have been described. However, most of the differences observed have only been partially adjusted for baseline differences, or not at all. The objective of the present study was to compare acute and follow-up management between men and women after stroke and transitory ischemic attacks, adjusting for potential confounders.


METHODS
Patients with symptoms of stroke were included at admission to one of four participating hospitals in the inner city of Berlin, Germany. Risk factors, clinical characteristics, and acute management were assessed from medical records. Patients were asked about socioeconomic factors and follow-up management in a baseline interview and by postal questionnaire, respectively. The follow-up was 12 months. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess odds ratios for management variables.


RESULTS
A total of 558 patients were included (55% men, mean age 65+/-13 years; 45% women, 69+/-14 years). Indications for admission were stroke (74%) and transitory ischemic attacks (26%). In multivariable analyses, there were no differences in diagnostic procedures performed at baseline and in follow-up management between men and women. However, women were significantly more likely to receive hypoglycemic drugs (odds ratio 2.49; 95% confidence interval 1.33-4.63) in the acute management period. Regarding the need for nursing support/a nursing home after 12 months, there were no significant differences between men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, we only found few differences in acute and long-term management between men and women following hospital admission after suffering a cerebrovascular event.
Institute of Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. jacqueline.mueller-nordhorn@charite.de
Jacqueline
J
Müller-Nordhorn
Christian H
CH
Nolte
Karin
K
Rossnagel
Gerhard J
GJ
Jungehülsing
Andreas
A
Reich
Stephanie
S
Roll
Arno
A
Villringer
Stefan N
SN
Willich
D000359:Aftercare; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D019145:Rehabilitation Nursing; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*