Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting Propensity Score using the Military Health System Data Repository and National Death Index
Published on: January 8, 2020
Stroke hospitalizations over three decades: lower for men, unchanged for women. A population-based study
Ygal Plakht1, Barak Pertzov, Hadar Gez
11 Unit of Nursing Research, Soroka University Medical Center , Beer-Sheva, Israel .
Insights
Stroke hospitalization rates declined in men but not women, indicating a need for targeted prevention strategies. This study highlights differing trends in stroke incidence and risk factors between sexes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Stroke incidence reports suggest a decline due to improved prevention.
- This study investigates sex-based trends in stroke hospitalization, risk factors, and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess sex-specific trends in acute ischemic stroke hospitalization rates.
- To analyze trends in common stroke risk factors and in-hospital outcomes by sex.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations from 1988, 1996, and 2006.
- Data collected included demographics, risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia), and in-hospital outcomes.
- Age-adjusted rates were calculated and analyzed for trends.
Main Results:
- Overall stroke hospitalization rates decreased significantly from 1988 to 2006.
- Age-adjusted rates declined in males but showed no significant trend in females.
- Hypertension and dyslipidemia trends increased more steeply in females; in-hospital mortality and length of stay showed similar declines for both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Stroke hospitalization rates have decreased in men but not in women.
- The differing trends may stem from biological factors or healthcare disparities.
- Future stroke prevention efforts must prioritize reducing stroke risk in females.
Background:
Several reports suggest that stroke incidence is gradually declining, possibly owing to improvements in primary and secondary prevention. The objective of our study was to assess whether the trends of stroke hospitalization rates, common risk factors, and in-hospital outcomes affected both males and females similarly.
Methods:
A retrospective review was made of discharge letters of acute ischemic stroke hospitalizations during 1988, 1996, and 2006 in a tertiary referral hospital. Data regarding demographics, common risk factors, and the in-hospital outcomes were collected.
Results:
A total of 1,287 cases were recorded (mean age 68.7 ± 11.8 years, 53.3% males). The annual age-adjusted rates of stroke hospitalizations per 1,000 persons in 1988, 1996, and 2006 were 2.31, 1.64, and 1.64, respectively (p<0.001). The age-adjusted rates decreased in males (3.0, 1.77, and 1.67; p<0.001); there was no significant trend among females (1.68, 1.53, and 1.62; p = 0.864). The positive trends of age-adjusted rates of hypertension and dyslipidemia were significantly steeper in females than in males. No significant difference in the trends of adjusted in-hospital mortality rates between the sexes was found. Significant decline in the length of stay was demonstrated for both sexes, with no significant difference in the measure of decline between the groups.
Conclusions:
Stroke hospitalization rates decreased for men but not for women. Regardless of whether the discordance in stroke-incidence trends between males and females was caused by biological factors (different risk factor profile) or disparities in healthcare provision, it seems that the challenge of stroke prevention in the next decade is in lowering the risk of stroke in females.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Hospitals-I
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
02:20Longitudinal Research