Sex- related differences in the factors associated with outcomes among patients with strokes of undetermined source: a hospital-based follow-up study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: Sex-related differences are well established among stroke patients, including the incidence and prevalence of stroke being higher among men than among women. However, the sex-related factors for differences in the outcomes of strokes of undetermined source (SUSs) have not been well described, especially in the Chinese population. We assessed the sex-related differences in the factors associated with outcomes among patients with SUSs in China. Method: Between January 2011 and December 2018, we recruited 205 patients diagnosed with SUSs from Kailuan General Hospital (China). The clinical features, risk factors, and outcome data were collected for the patients at 3 and 12 months after their strokes. Results: There were higher frequencies of hyperlipidemia (27.8% vs. 26.4%), smoking (41.4% vs. 5.6%), and alcohol consumption (21.8% vs. 0%) for male patients than for female patients. However, women were more likely than men to have hypertension (63.9% vs. 46.6%), diabetes (27.8% vs. 20.3%), and atrial fibrillation (9.7% vs. 5.3%); they were also more likely to be obese (16.7% vs. 12.0%). There were no significant differences in outcome between the sexes. Among men, severe strokes were associated with higher case fatality and disability risks at 12 months after stroke onset; hyperlipidemia was a risk factor for recurrence within 3 months of the initial stroke. Among women, severe strokes also increased the risk of disability; in women, high total cholesterol (TC) and age were associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: The factors associated with outcomes in SUS differed by sex. For male patients, more severe stroke and hyperlipidemia were associated with poor outcomes in SUS. Risk factors for poor outcomes in female patients were stroke severity, age, and TC level. These findings suggest that taking measures to manage blood lipid levels and severe stroke among patients with SUS is important for both male and female patients and is crucial for reducing the burden of stroke in China.