Sex Differences in Stroke Attack, Incidence, and Mortality Rates in Northern France.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Age and sex have a major impact on stroke onset. AIMS: We aimed to compare the attack, incidence, and 28-day mortality rate for stroke as well as risk factors in men and women aged 35 and over. METHODS: Data were obtained between 2008 and 2015 from the stroke population-based registry covering the city of Lille (northern France). RESULTS: A total of 2426 strokes (1917 incident strokes) were recorded. The number of strokes was lower in women than in men when considering individuals under the age of 75 but was twice as high when considering individuals aged 75 or over. Overall, there were 25% more strokes in women than in men. The age-adjusted attack (P = .017) and incident (P = .027) rates of stroke were ~30% lower in women than in men (a ~30% lower risk of ischemic stroke (P = .02) and a ~40% lower risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (P = .004)). The age-adjusted mortality rate after ICH was ~35% lower in women than in men (P = .014). With regard to cardiovascular risk factors, women with stroke were older, smoked less, and were more likely to have a history of migraine or atrial fibrillation than the men. CONCLUSION: The risk of stroke is lower in women than in men under the age of 75 but is similar when comparing women and men after that age. Nevertheless, the age structure of the population (with more elderly women than elderly men) translates into a higher absolute number of strokes in women than in men.