Women worse off than men after a stroke

Women are twice as likely as men to experience severe depression in the years after having a stroke.

In a five-year study involving over 2,300 stroke patients, researchers from King’s College London found 20 per cent of the women experienced severe depression compared to 10 per cent of men.

About a third of all survivors experience depression following a stroke; and as the patients’ symptoms increased, the greater the risk of death from any cause.

Writing in the european Journal of neurology, the authors say rates may be higher in women as they draw more of their sense of selfworth from social relationships, which the effects of a stroke — such as problems with speech — can make more difficult.