Exploring Gender-Specific Stroke Risks in Diabetic Patients: Insights from a Retrospective Analysis of Contributing Factors.

Background: Diabetics face a higher risk of stroke, and the numbers are rising. In men, gender-specific factors such as lower age and body mass index, and in women, obesity and psychosocial stress contribute to a high risk of stroke. For effective prevention, it is crucial to identify and address these risk factors.

Materials and methods: The electronic medical records between January 2017 and December 2021 of previously diagnosed diabetic patients were obtained from a tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, South India. It was scrutinized from (January 3, 2022, to March 12, 2022) using a validated checklist consisting of 28 items to identify the contributing factors of stroke (CVI = 0.9 and Cronbach's alpha value = 0.83) Descriptive statistics and inferential tests such as the Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and odds ratio (OR) were used.

Results: Out of 3152, 569 suffered a stroke, while the remaining 2583 did not have a stroke. Out of 569, the majority were males (63.9%). It was found that coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR: 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.10-2.07), use of alcohol (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.09-2.29), and smoking (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.29-2.80) were associated with the risk of stroke in men.

Conclusions: The present study found that CAD and unhealthy habits such as the use of alcohol and smoking have a significant influence on the development of stroke among men and women with diabetes. Effective implementation of programs through early detection, comprehensive management, and prevention requires collaboration among healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and educators.