title: Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in women: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this statement is to summarize data on stroke risk factors that are unique to and more common in women than men and to expand on the data provided in prior stroke guidelines and cardiovascular prevention guidelines for women. This guideline focuses on the risk factors unique to women, such as reproductive factors, and those that are more common in women, including migraine with aura, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Writing group members were nominated by the committee chair on the basis of their previous work in relevant topic areas and were approved by the American Heart Association (AHA) Stroke Council's Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and the AHA's Manuscript Oversight Committee. The panel reviewed relevant articles on adults using computerized searches of the medical literature through May 15, 2013. The evidence is organized within the context of the AHA framework and is classified according to the joint AHA/American College of Cardiology and supplementary AHA Stroke Council methods of classifying the level of certainty and the class and level of evidence. The document underwent extensive AHA internal peer review, Stroke Council Leadership review, and Scientific Statements Oversight Committee review before consideration and approval by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We provide current evidence, research gaps, and recommendations on risk of stroke related to preeclampsia, oral contraceptives, menopause, and hormone replacement, as well as those risk factors more common in women, such as obesity/metabolic syndrome, atrial fibrillation, and migraine with aura.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To more accurately reflect the risk of stroke in women across the lifespan, as well as the clear gaps in current risk scores, we believe a female-specific stroke risk score is warranted.
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Bushnell
authors: Louise D
authors: LD
authors: McCullough
authors: Issam A
authors: IA
authors: Awad
authors: Monique V
authors: MV
authors: Chireau
authors: Wende N
authors: WN
authors: Fedder
authors: Karen L
authors: KL
authors: Furie
authors: Virginia J
authors: VJ
authors: Howard
authors: Judith H
authors: JH
authors: Lichtman
authors: Lynda D
authors: LD
authors: Lisabeth
authors: Ileana L
authors: IL
authors: Piña
authors: Mathew J
authors: MJ
authors: Reeves
authors: Kathryn M
authors: KM
authors: Rexrode
authors: Gustavo
authors: G
authors: Saposnik
authors: Vineeta
authors: V
authors: Singh
authors: Amytis
authors: A
authors: Towfighi
authors: Viola
authors: V
authors: Vaccarino
authors: Matthew R
authors: MR
authors: Walters
mesh_terms: D000572:American Heart Association; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D016387:Women's Health / Q000592:standards*
keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; atrial fibrillation; hormone replacement therapy; menopause; metabolic syndrome X; preeclampsia/eclampsia; sex differences; stroke