Abstract
The aim of the study was to establish gender-linked differences and similarities in the distribution of stroke risk factors, functional status and socioeconomic status prior to onset, clinical course in the acute stage and early outcome. The analysis was performed using Stat tm programme. We have accepted p<0.05 as statistically significant. We have reviewed data of 816 stroke patients treated in the 2nd Dept. of Neurology of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland (608 patients) and the Dept. of Neurology of the District Specialist Hospital, Pila, Poland (208 patients). 52.7% of patients were female and 47.3 male. The average age of women was higher than men, 73.1 and 66.2 respectively (p<0.000l) and were more frequently independent in everyday life functioning and professionally active (p<0.001). Hypertension was the most frequent risk factor for both but occurred statistically more often in females. Women also suffered mare frequently of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. +Men more frequently smoked and drank excesive amounts of alcohol (p<0.01). Women tended to have consciousness disturbances (p=0.003) and more severe neurological symptoms (p=0.0002). There was no difference in the occurrence of ischemic and haemorrgagic stroke. Early case fatality affected female more often without statistical significance (p>0.05). In the 3 month follow up male patients were in a better functional state (p=0.0002). Stroke recurrence was similar in both genders (p>0.05). Some differences in the clinical course, distribution of risk factors and outcome need further evaluation.