Comparison of access to stroke diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and outcome between men and women

Background

We aimed to compare access to diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, and outcome in women and men with stroke.

Methods

In this observational study we used routinely-collected, aggregate health data from all patients admitted with a stroke in the Capital Region and Region Zealand, Denmark from May 2016 until October 2022.

Results

Among 28,855 stroke patients (55 % men, 45 % women), women were older (53 % women vs. 47 % men with age > 75 years). Overall, women had reduced access to: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; 40 % vs. 43 %, CI 95 %: 1.06–1.16), computer tomography (CT)-angiography (25 % vs. 28 %, CI95%: 1.07–1.19), carotid ultrasound (48 % vs. 52 %, CI95%: 1.12–1.23), thrombolysis (16 % vs. 18 %, CI95%: 1.13–1.28), and neuropsychological assessment (9 % vs. 16 %, CI95%: 1.70–1.97). Home discharge rates were lower for women (45 % vs. 47 %, CI95%: 1.04–1.15), while in-hospital mortality was higher (8 % vs. 6 %, CI95%: 0.59–0.71). For patients >75 years, women had less access to MRI (34 % vs. 35 %, CI95%: 1–1.16), carotid ultrasound (46 % vs. 51 %, CI95%: 1.13–1.30), thrombolysis (15 % vs. 16 %, CI95%: 1.02–1.24), and neuropsychological assessment (2 % vs. 4 %, CI95%: 1.60–2.42). Women's in-hospital mortality remained higher also in patients >75 years (12 % vs. 8 %, CI95%: 0.62–0.79).

Conclusions

Women had reduced access to testing, treatment, and rehabilitation across all age groups and stroke types. This disparity was most notable in interventions not included in the national quality assessment program.