Women more likely to suffer strokes: study

RESEARCHERS have found that strokes disproportionately affect women as compared with men owing to factors such as fluctuations in naturally occurring hormone levels, early age of menarche and menopause.

According to the researchers, strokes were a leading cause of disability that affected 55 000 more women than men each year.

“Many people don’t realise that women suffer strokes more frequently than men and mortality is much higher among women,” said study co-author Kathryn Rexrode, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the US.

“As women age, they are much more likely to have a stroke as a first manifestation of cardiovascular disease rather than heart attack,” Rexrode said.

For the study, published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers delved into the scientific literature to investigate evidence about risk factors that were unique to women.

They explored the effects of potential risk factors such as hormone levels, hormone therapy, hormonal birth control, pregnancy and time of menarche and menopause.

The team found that fluctuations in naturally occurring hormone levels and adverse effects of supplemental hormones used as contraception or to treat menopausal symptoms were some of the factors that could elevate stroke risk among women.

The team also noted that, while many of these factors were common, only a fraction of women who had one or more would suffer a stroke.

“These women should be monitored carefully and they should be aware that they are at higher risk, and motivated to adhere to the healthiest lifestyle behaviours to decrease the risk of hypertension and subsequent stroke,” Rexrode said.