engleski

Sex differences in ischemic stroke fatality outcome in Croatia

Background Continental regions (Osijek and Zagreb) have higher incidence of ischemic stroke than the coastal region (Split). Objective To examine the influence of gender on the lethal outcome of ischemic stroke patients treated in three regional stroke centres in Croatia. Methods We analysed three cohorts of ischemic stroke patients hospitalised during one year (181 in Osijek, 204 in Split and 138 in Zagreb). More male patients were hospitalised in Osijek (53.6%) and Split (53.9%) than in Zagreb (41.3%). Results The total case fatality rate of ischemic stroke was significantly higher in the continental centres (Osijek 39.8% and Zagreb 42.8%) than in the coastal centre (Split 26%). Male patients had a reliably higher lethal outcome than female patients in Osijek (48.5% vs. 29.8%) and in Zagreb (49.1% vs. 38.3%). In Split we observed the opposite situation: female patients had a relatively higher fatality rate than the male patients (28.7% vs. 23.6%), (not significant). Female patients in both Osijek and Split had nearly the same proportion of fatalities, unlike male patients. The relative death rate between the group of female patients older than 65 years compared to those under 65 is higher in Split (7.4) than in Zagreb (3.6) or in Osijek (2.5). Conclusion Male gender is associated to the higher fatality outcome of ischemic stroke within population with higher burden of risk factors (continental Croatia). The gender has not much influenced the outcome of stroke in the population with lower prevalence of risk factors for stroke (coastal Croatia).

ischemic stroke; fatality; sex

nije evidentirano