This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 40/3/980    most recent STROKEAHA.108.528422v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Turaj, W. Articles by Szczudlik, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Turaj, W. Articles by Szczudlik, A. Related Collections Other Stroke

(Stroke. 2009;40:980.)
© 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.

Research Letters

Gender-Related Differences in Diagnostic Evaluation and Outcome of Ischemic Stroke in Poland

Wojciech Turaj, MD; Agnieszka Sowik, PhD; Marcin Wnuk, MD Andrzej Szczudlik, PhD

From the Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland.

Correspondence to Wojciech Turaj, MD, Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 3 Botaniczna St., 31-503 Kraków, Poland. E-mail turaj{at}cm-uj.krakow.pl

Background and Purpose— We compared the diagnostic evaluation and outcome of ischemic stroke between men and women in large cohort of Polish patients.

Methods— Our study included 1488 consecutive patients (755 women and 733 men) with ischemic stroke, treated in a single stroke unit between January 2002 and August 2007. We analyzed demographic factors, major risk factors for stroke, severity of neurological deficit on admission, diagnostic work-up performed during the hospital stay, and outcome on discharge.

Results— Women were older than men (70.9±13.7 vs 66.2±12.7 years; P<0.001) and had greater neurological deficit on admission (median NIHSS score: 7 [3–13] vs 5 [3–10]; P<0.001). They were also less likely to obtain good recovery on discharge (39.2% vs 49.9%; P<0.001). Carotid ultrasound and echocardiography were performed more often in men (77.2% vs 68.7% and 52.4% vs 46.5%, respectively; P<0.05). Lesser neurological deficit on admission, younger age, and lack of history of myocardial infarction or previous stroke, but not gender, were independent predictors of full diagnostic work-up.

Conclusions— Gender does not influence the adequate diagnostic evaluation of ischemic stroke as an independent factor.

Key Words: acute stroke • gender • stroke evaluation • stroke outcome