title: Sex differences in the presentation of stroke.
abstract: Stroke affects both men and women of all ages, although the condition is more common among the elderly. Stroke occurs at an older age among women than among men; although the incidence is lower among women than among men, as women have a longer life expectancy their lifetime risk is slightly higher. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke; and reperfusion treatment is possible if the patient reaches hospital early enough. Thrombolysis and thrombectomy are time-sensitive treatments - the earlier they are initiated the better is the chance of a positive outcome. It is therefore important to identify a stroke as soon as possible. Medical personnel can readily identify typical stroke symptoms but the presentation of non-traditional stroke symptoms, such as impaired consciousness and altered mental status, is often associated with a significant delay in the identification of stroke and thus delay in or inability to provide treatment. Non-traditional stroke symptoms are reported to be more common in women, who are thereby at risk of delayed recognition of stroke and treatment delay.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet Stroke Research Network at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Neurology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: annika.berglund@sll.se.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cardiac Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Gender Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schenck-Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet Stroke Research Network at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Medicine, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Euler
mesh_terms: D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017131:Thrombectomy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Presentation; Review; Sex; Stroke; Symptoms