a comparison of risk factors and severity of ischemic stroke in female and male genders in north-west iran: a cross-sectional study.

background:  gender  difference  has  been   reported  in stroke  risk factors  and  disease  history. the aim  of this study  was  to  compare  risk factors  and  the  severity  of ischemic stroke based  upon  modified rankin scale (mrs) and hospital mortality between two genders. methods: in a  cross-sectional  study, 341  patients  (44% males and 56% females with a mean age of 68.94 ± 12.74 years) with ischemic stroke, who were hospitalized  in the neurology   wards  of  two  referral  university  hospital  of north-west iran (imam reza and razi hospitals), from the beginning  to the end of 2011 were selected  and assessed. gender difference in terms of demographic findings, vascular risk factors, 7th   day mrs, and  hospital  mortality (during admission) were evaluated. results: in 2.6% of cases, mrs was found to be less than 2 (favorable) and in 97.4% of cases; mrs was 2-5 (with disability). no significant difference in ischemic stroke severity   based   on   mrs   was   observed   between  two genders. ere was a significant difference  in the  rate of hypertension (females = 72.3%, males = 59.3%, p = 0.010), diabetes   (females  =  28.8%,  males  =  18.7%,  p =  0.030), smoking (females = 6.3%, males = 35.3%, p < 0.001). no significant   difference   was   seen   in  other   risk  factors between two genders. there was no significant difference in the mortality rate, which constituted 8.9% and 4.7% in females and males respectively (p = 0.140). conclusion: the   evidence   from   the   present   study suggests  that  despite  the  existence  of some  difference between risk-factors in two genders, there was no difference in terms of ischemic stroke severity and mortality rate between two genders.