title: Women Stroke Association Statement on Stroke.
abstract: We describe the current and future objectives of the Women Stroke Association, a nonprofit multidisciplinary organization promoting research awareness on medical, psychological, and social issues concerning women affected by cerebrocardiovascular disease. In this paper, we deal with only cerebrovascular disease, whereas cardiovascular disorders will be addressed in a future paper. Gender differences in the clinical presentation of cerebrovascular diseases have been repeatedly suggested, and some treatment options may not be as effective and safe in men and women. For many years, women have either been underrepresented or excluded from randomized clinical trials, and the majority of therapeutic research has been carried on predominantly male populations. Furthermore, gender differences have been shown to contribute to different responses to cerebrovascular drugs in women when compared with men, regarding pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and physiology. In this statement, we discuss main research fields relevant to Women Stroke Association's mission and commitment, highlighting opportunities and critical from the women's health perspective. Future directions and goals of the Women Stroke Association arise from these considerations and represent the association's commitment to combating stroke.
authors.affiliation: 1 Stroke Unit - Department of Emergency Medicine, AO S Camillo Forlanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pezzella
authors.affiliation: 2 Direzione Scientifica and U.O. Medicina d'Urgenza, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santalucia
authors.affiliation: 3 NeuroRadiology, IRCCS Fondazione S Lucia, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vadalà
authors.affiliation: 4 Fondazione Biomedica Europea Onlus, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giugni
authors.affiliation: 5 Neurology Department, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zedde
authors.affiliation: 6 Stroke Unit - Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.affiliation: 1 Stroke Unit - Department of Emergency Medicine, AO S Camillo Forlanini, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anticoli
authors.affiliation: 7 Stroke Unit, University of Perugia, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Caso
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012955:Societies, Medical; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: epidemiology; gender medicine; methodology; risk factors; stroke; therapy