Stroke :: Strokes kill 45% more women than men in Canada

Strokes kill 45% more women than men in Canada, according to a new data analysis released by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. And that?s why Canadian women have a strong reason to be aware of the warning signs of stroke, says the Foundation.

At all ages, a man has a higher risk of having a stroke than a woman. But each year, more women than men die from stroke ? and the gap is widening.

In 1973, there were 8,523 female deaths from stroke compared to 7,702 male deaths ? a 10% difference. By 2004 (the latest year for which data are available), female deaths increased to 8,667 while male deaths dropped to 5,959. Data suggests that the lifetime risk for a middle-aged woman of having a stroke is 1 in 5, whereas it is 1 in 6 for a middle-aged man.

Some of women?s increased stroke risk is caused by the fact that women tend to live longer on average than men, and stroke mortality is higher with age. Most risk factors for stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, inactivity and high cholesterol, are the same for men and women, and can be controlled. But new research is suggesting that there may be some risk factors that are uniquely important for women.

Migraines
A review of the research shows that among women age 20-44 years of age, those who have migraines have double the risk of stroke. More recently, a study found that women who have migraines with visual disturbances such as flashing dots or blind spots can be up to 10 times more likely to have a stroke.

In the 2003 Canadian Community Health Survey, 15% of women age 30 and over reported migraines, compared to only 6% of men.

Pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a form of pregnancy-associated high blood pressure that occurs in about 5-7% of all pregnancies. Research suggests that women who develop preeclampsia have a 60% greater risk of non-pregnancy-related ischemic stroke, compared to women without a history of pre-eclampsia.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
The massive Women?s Health Initiative has shown that although most women who take HRT will not have a stroke, women who take estrogen and progestin HRT for less than two years have a 40% higher risk. Although the risk drops after two years, it is important that women who take or are considering HRT talk to their doctors about both the benefits and the risks.

Oral Contraceptives
For most women, the risk of stroke from taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills) is very small. However, for women who smoke, have high blood pressure, migraines or blood clotting disorders, the risk is much higher. Women who have these risk factors are advised to talk with their doctor before taking oral contraceptives.

Women also face other challenges related to stroke. ?Compared with men, women with stroke are more likely to live alone and less likely to have social supports,? notes Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Dr. Moira Kapral.


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