title: Increased risk of stroke in patients who undergo cesarean section delivery: a nationwide population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study used a population-based dataset to determine whether (compared with vaginal deliveries), cesarean section deliveries increase the risk of postpartum stroke during the 3-, 6-, or 12-month period after delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used 1998-2003 records from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for 987,010 women with singleton deliveries from 1998-2002. Cox proportional hazard regressions were carried out to compute stroke-free survival rates between the 2 delivery modes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The regression model indicated that, compared with patients who delivered vaginally, the hazard ratio for postpartum stroke among those who delivered by cesarean section was 1.67 times greater within 3 months of delivery (95% CI, 1.29-2.16), was 1.61 times greater within 6 months of delivery (95% CI, 1.31-1.98), and was 1.49 times greater within 12 months of delivery (95% CI, 1.27-1.76).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicates that cesarean section delivery is an independent risk factor for stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Practice, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiyng-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chaur-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Herng-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*