title: [Sex differences in the integrated stroke management in a rural healthcare area in Asturias].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sex differences and the (rural or urban) nature of populations largely determine the integrated management of time-dependent pathologies such as strokes, which is the main cause of female hospitalisation and mortality in our setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether any differential characteristics can be observed between male and female stroke patients in a rural healthcare area in the Principality of Asturias.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive retrospective study was conducted at the Jarrio Hospital. Different variables were reviewed using the computerised medical records of patients who suffered a stroke in 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 126 patients were discharged, 53.2% among females, who suffered the disease with a five-year delay (p < 0.008) with respect to males. These latter smoked more and also drank harmful amounts of alcohol (p < 0.000). The pre-hospital delay did not yield any significant sex differences. Language disorder was the main symptom in the female group (p < 0.008), who scored higher on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (p < 0.046). Complementary studies, such as Holter monitoring (p < 0.04) and ultrasound scanning of the supra-aortic trunks (p < 0.02), are conducted less often in females, who mainly received conservative treatment with greater parenteral hydration (p < 0.017) and rest. The female group suffered more complications, disability at discharge (p < 0.001) and at three months (p < 0.004), and recorded higher percentages of subsequent institutionalisation (p < 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are demographic sex differences in the cerebrovascular risk profile, clinical presentation, hospital management and comorbidity of stroke in this rural population, which suggest that there are areas where there is room for improvement.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Comarcal de Jarrio, 33719 Coana, Espana.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lopez-Martinez
authors.affiliation: Centro Medico de Asturias, Oviedo, Espana.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernardo-Cofino
authors.affiliation: Hospital Comarcal de Jarrio, 33719 Coana, Espana.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garcia-Prieto
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Agustin, 33400 Aviles, Espana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feito-Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Espana.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Dios-Del Valle
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Espana.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calleja-Puerta
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*