Women less likely to receive specialized medical evaluations after stroke

DALLAS, Jan. 30, 2019 — Hospitalized women with ischemic stroke were less likely than men to be evaluated by stroke specialists and get specialized diagnostic tests, according to preliminary research to be presented in Honolulu at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

Previous studies found that there are gender differences in stroke risk factors, incidence, treatment and in how stroke survivors fare mentally and physically.

In this study of nearly 67,000 ischemic stroke survivors drawn from a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries, researchers examined whether there were gender differences in hospital evaluation after stroke.

They found small but notable differences, suggesting women hospitalized with stroke were less likely than men to see stroke specialists and receive imaging and other tests to diagnose stroke.

Female stroke survivors had a:

* 6 percent less likelihood of having intracranial vessel imaging;

* 10 percent less likelihood of having cervical vessel imaging;

* 8 percent less likelihood of being monitored for heart-rhythm irregularities; and

* 8 percent less likelihood of having echocardiography.

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The Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute and Weill Cornell Department of Neurology funded the study.

Samuel S. Bruce, M.D., M.A., first year neurology resident, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell, New York, N.Y

Note: Scientific presentation is 5:55 p.m. HT/10:55 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019.

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The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.