Sex-dependent outcomes of recanalization-treated acute ischemic stroke patients at Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) medical center, Israel, 2011-2020

Background/objectives: Sex-based differences in incidence, etiologies, severity and recanalization treatment outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have been studied extensively. We set out to determine if there were sex-based differences in outcomes among AIS patients who received recanalization treatments at Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center (SMC), Israel, between 2011 and 2020.

Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review. The primary analysis compared outcomes for men and women, overall and stratifying by disease severity. We compared also demographics, risk factors and workflow data.

Results: Eight hundred and eleven patients received recanalization treatment between 2011 and 2020: 472 (58.1%) men and 339 (41.8%) women. Mean age, NIHSS score and proportion with an NIHSS score ≥ 6 were higher for women. Cerebrovascular risk factors were more prevalent in women, particularly atrial fibrillation, except that current smoking was more prevalent in men. Six hundred and twenty patients (78.1%) were treated with TPA alone, 89 (11.2%) with TPA and endovascular treatment (EVT), and 85 (10.7%) with EVT alone. Fifty percent of patients were discharged home, 41% to a rehabilitation hospital or nursing home, and 9% did not survive. Twenty-four patients (3%) sustained symptomatic bleeds. Outcomes were worse in patients with NIHSS score ≥ 6. Outcomes did not differ by sex.

Conclusions: While treated women presented with more severe AIS and more risk factors, we did not find significant sex-related differences in outcomes. Meticulous adherence to risk factor modification remains the best strategy to reduce stroke incidence, morbidity, and mortality in women and in men.