Stroke Severity among Men and Women Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients in the Telestroke Network

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates gender differences among stroke patients treated in the telestroke network using specific risk factors that contribute to stroke severity. METHODS: We examined gender differences in stroke severity among 454 patients hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The logistic regression model was used to predict clinical risk factors associated with stroke severity in men and women AIS patients. RESULTS: In the adjusted analysis among women patients, increasing age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.017–1.085, p = 0.003) and higher heart rate (OR = 1.031, 95% CI: 1.005–1.058, p = 0.021) were associated with worsening neurological functions, while direct admission (OR = 0.191, 95% CI: 0.079–0.465, p < 0.001) was associated with improving neurologic functions. Among men, hypertension (OR = 3.077, 95% CI: 1.060–8.931, p = 0.039) and higher international normalized ratio (INR) (OR = 21.959, 95% CI: 1.489–323.912, p = 0.024) were associated with worsening neurologic functions, while Caucasian (OR = 0.181, 95% CI: 0.062–0.526, p = 0.002) and obesity (OR = 0.449, 95% CI: 0.203–0.99, p = 0.047) were associated with neurologic improvement. CONCLUSION: Increasing age and heart rate in women, hypertension and greater INR in men contribute to worsening neurologic functions. There is a need to develop strategies to improve the care of both men and women in the telestroke network.