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Poststroke Disability: Association Between Sex and Patient-Reported Outcomes
Lara C Oliveira1, Ana Ponciano1, Carissa Tuozzo1
1J Philip Kistler Stroke Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (L.C.O., A.P., C.T., A.V., N.S.R.).
Stroke
|January 23, 2023
Summary
Women experience worse outcomes after ischemic stroke (IS). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) reveal significant sex-specific differences in recovery, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Ischemic stroke (IS) is a primary cause of long-term disability, with notable sex-specific variations in patient outcomes.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for developing personalized interventions to mitigate long-term disability.
- Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) offer valuable insights into the individual impact and heterogeneity of IS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify sex-specific differences in stroke outcomes.
- To investigate the relationship between sex and PROMs in IS patients at 3-month follow-up.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study enrolled 410 IS patients from February 2017 to February 2020.
- Functional outcomes were assessed using the Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale.
- Patient-reported outcomes were evaluated using PROM-10 questionnaires, with T scores for physical and mental health derived from responses.
Main Results:
- While baseline characteristics were similar, males showed better outcomes on the T Physical score and Barthel Index at 3-month follow-up.
- Regression analysis indicated that female sex was associated with worse PROMs T Physical scores, Barthel Index, and modified Rankin Scale scores (≥2).
- Females reported lower scores for physical health subcomponents, general health, and emotional well-being.
Conclusions:
- Women exhibit poorer outcomes post-ischemic stroke, encompassing both functional disability and patient-reported experiences.
- Integrating PROMs into IS outcome assessments provides a more comprehensive understanding of sex-specific recovery patterns.
- These findings underscore the importance of considering sex in stroke outcome evaluation and treatment strategies.
