Stroke Characteristics, Risk Factors, and Outcomes in Transgender Adults: A Case Series

To describe the clinical characteristics and risk factors of male-to-female transgender (transwomen) patients with acute stroke.

The study population included all patients admitted for stroke at San Francisco General Hospital from October 1, 2010 through August 31, 2017 who self-identified as transwomen. Patient charts were reviewed by the study coauthors for demographics, stroke risk factors, stroke characteristics, and clinical outcomes. Means, percentiles, and ranges were calculated.

Eight transwomen (average age, 50±9 y; range, 38 to 61 y) were admitted for stroke (average NIHSS, 8; range, 0 to 27). The majority of patients presented subacutely. The most common type of stroke was ischemic stroke (4, 50%), followed by intracerebral hemorrhage (2, 22%), transient ischemic attack (1, 13%), and concurrent ischemic stroke with subarachnoid hemorrhage (1, 13%). While traditional stroke risk factors were present, these patients also disproportionally had alternative risk factors: stimulant use (5, 63%), tobacco use (5, 63%), hepatitis C (5, 63%), human immunodeficiency virus (3, 38%), and prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (2, 25%). Six patients (75%) used estradiol (oral or injection) or conjugated estrogen as part of gender-affirming treatment at the time of stroke; one patient used estrogen remotely. Only 2 patients (33%) were prescribed their hormone therapy on discharge.

Understanding unique vulnerabilities of the transgender community for cerebrovascular events is essential to provide culturally appropriate counseling for harm reduction.