Sex differences in the use of therapeutic resources and stroke outcomes in 5 randomized trials

Despite their lower age-adjusted incidence of stroke, women have worse functional and patient-reported outcomes, including more activity limitations, worse health-related quality of life, and more poststroke depression than men.1 Women's higher age, greater stroke severity, and poorer health at the time of stroke partially explain these disparities.1 However, a substantial knowledge gap remains regarding sex differences in stroke care and outcomes. The complex interaction of sex-based factors such as genetics, epidemiology, frailty, clinical presentation, access to preventive care, diagnostic testing and treatment, response to therapy, and social support make this a challenging field of study.2,3