title: Impact of comorbidities on ischemic stroke outcomes in women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the association of prestroke comorbidities with long-term stroke outcomes among women with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prestroke comorbid conditions in 133 women admitted with acute ischemic stroke were scored with the Charlson Index (CI). We assessed whether the CI and other specific conditions were associated with modified Rankin Score (mRS) at 90 days or more poststroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustment for initial NIHSS and age, higher CI was the sole factor independently associated with poorer 90 day mRS scores. When CI was excluded, coronary disease and diabetes were independently associated with poorer outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extent of comorbidities as assessed by the CI is independently associated with 90-day mRS among women with ischemic stroke, but the individual comorbidities of CHD and DM were each associated with functional outcome.
authors.forename: Cheryl D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bushnell
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pamela W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: L Kristin
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.forename: Larry B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome