Which Sex- and Gender-Based Explanatory Variables are Associated with Memory Function Post-Stroke? A Cross Sectional Analysis of the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Abstract

Objective: To identify sex- and gender-based variables associated with immediate and delayed recall in individuals with stroke.

Design: This was a secondary analysis of data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) using general linear models with a standard stepwise approach.

Setting: Community INTERVENTIONS: Not Applicable PARTICIPANTS: Participants were eligible for the current analysis if they had a self-reported history of stroke at NHATS Round 1 (2011), and data available on our variables of interest. The final analyses included 366 participants for the immediate recall model and 365 participants for the delayed recall model.

Main outcome measures: Independent variables of interested included sex- (eight variables, for example biological sex, depression and anxiety, and comorbidities) and gender-related factors (fourteen variables, for example education, income, independence with banking). The dependent variables of interest were the 10-word immediate and delayed recall tests, respectively.

Results: Higher immediate recall scores were associated with younger age, female biological sex, independence with banking, higher income, giving financial gifts, not requiring assistance with ADLs, and higher education (p<0.001-0.04). Higher delayed recall scores were associated with younger age, higher BMI, higher education, placing importance in socializing, and independence with banking (p<0.001-0.04).

Conclusion: We conducted the largest analysis to date of sex- and gender-based factors associated with cognition in individuals with stroke. Stroke rehabilitation scientists and clinicians may consider both biological and sociodemographic factors associated with cognitive function, which may guide holistic post-stroke assessments and interventions.