Stroke in women: disparities and outcomes.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States and affects 15 million people worldwide. Studies performed in various parts of the world have found differences between sexes in stroke incidence, prevalence, mortality, and outcomes. Although men are at higher risk of stroke for most age groups below age 85 years, after this age the incidence reverses dramatically, with women being much more at risk. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that women have worse recovery than men post-stroke. Many aspects of recovery may influence this outcome, including sex-specific comorbidities, aggressiveness of acute treatment, prevention therapies, and varying degrees of social support and rates of depression. It is important to further define and investigate sex differences in stroke incidence, care, treatment, and outcomes to improve functional recovery in women.
Persky
Rebecca W
RW
Department of Neurology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Turtzo
Lisa Christine
LC
McCullough
Louise D
LD
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003863:Depression; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D045166:Estradiol Congeners; D045167:Progesterone Congeners