Sex Differences in Stroke Risk Factors, Clinical Profiles, and In-Hospital Outcomes Among Stroke Patients Admitted to the Medical Ward of Dessie Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northeast Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison of Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Subjects by Sex in the Medical Ward of DCSH from January 2016 to December 2019

Variables	Male		Female
	Frequency (150)	Percent (48.1)	Frequency (162)	Percent (51.9)
Age
<45	33	10.6	13	4.2
≥45	117	37.5	149	47.7
Marital Status
Single	1	0.3	4	1.3
Married	112	35.9	122	39.1
Widowed	9	2.9	19	6.1
Divorced	10	3.2	6	1.9
Not specified	18	5.8	11	3.5
Religion
Muslim	87	27.9	85	27.2
Orthodox	51	16.4	64	20.5
Protestant	12	3.8	8	2.6
Catholic	0	0	5	1.6
Educational Status
No formal education	82	26.2	96	30.8
Primary school	24	7.7	16	5.1
Secondary school	17	5.5	14	4.5
College & above	12	3.8	6	1.9
Not specified	15	4.8	30	9.6
Residence
Rural	96	30.8	109	34.9
Urban	54	17.3	53	17

Note: Results are presented as frequency and percentage.

Table 2 Binary and Multivariable Logistic Regression for Comparison of Stroke Risk Factors Distribution of Subjects by Sex in the Medical Ward of DCSH from January 2016 to December 2019

Variables	Categories	Frequency (%)		COR, 95% CI	AOR, 95% CI	P-value
		Male	Male
Age	<45	33 (10.6)	13(4.2)	(0.400; 0.231–0.692; p=0.001)	(2.998; 1.670–5.383)	0.000*
	≥ 45	117(37.5)	149 (47.7)	1	1
Hypertension	No	56(18.0)	59(18.9)	1
	Yes	94(30.1)	103(33.0)	(1.040; 0.656–1.648; p=0.867)
Diabetes Mellitus	No	135(43.3)	153(49.0)		1
	Yes	15 (4.8)	9(2.9)	(0.529; 0.224–1. 249; p=0.146)	(2.000; 0.800–5.000)	0.138
Hypertension & Diabetes Mellitus	No	138(44.3)	144(46.1)	1
	Yes	12(3.8)	18(5.8)	(1.437; 0.668–3.095; p=0.354)
History of Stroke	No	141(45.2)	154(49.3)	1
	Yes	9(2.9)	8(2.6)	(0.814; 0.306–2.167; p=0.680)
Atrial Fibrillation	No	129(41.4)	136(43.6)	1
	Yes	21(6.7)	26(8.3)	(1.174; 0.630–1.191; p=0.613)
Smoking	No	123(39.4)	151(48.4)	1	1
	Yes	27(8.7)	11(3.5)	(0.332; 0.158–0.696; p=0.004)	(2.911; 1.299–6.521)	0.009*
Alcohol Intake	No	128(41.0)	152(48.7)	1	1
	Yes	22(7.1)	10(3.2)	(0.383; 0.175–0.838; p=0.016)	(1.659; 0.687–4.006)	0.260
Structural Heart Diseases	No	136(43.6)	137(43.9)	1	1
	Yes	14(4.5)	25(8.0)	(1.773; 0.884–3.555; p=0.107)	(0.420; 0.194–0.910)	0.028*
Family History of Stroke	No	142(45.5)	155(49.7)	1
	Yes	8(2.6)	7(2.2)	(0.802; 0.283–2.267; p=0.677)
Human Immuno Virus	No	141(45.2)	154(49.3)	1
	Yes	9(2.9)	8(2.6)	(0.814; 0.306–2.167; p=0.680)
Khat Chewing	No	117(37.5)	149(47.7)	1	1
	Yes	33(10.6)	13(4.2)	(0.309; 0.156–0.614; p=0.001)	(3.650; 1.719–7.749)	0.001*
Obesity	No	144(46.2)	152(48.7)	1	1
	Yes	6(1.9)	10(3.2)	(0.538; 0.191–1.520; p=0.242)	(1.822; 0.609–5.452)	0.283
Headache	No	143(45.9)	148(47.4)	1	1
	Yes	7(2.2)	14(4.5)	(1.932; 0.758–4.927; p=0.168)	(0.679; 0.248–1.858)	0.451

Notes: Results are presented as frequency and percentage; *significantly different from female patients at p-value < 0.05.

Table 3 Sex Distribution of Clinical Presentations of Stroke at the Time of Admission in the Medical Ward of DCSH from January 2016 to December 2019

Clinical Presentations		Male		Female		p-value
		150	48.1%	162	51.9%
Loss of consciousness		30	9.6	47	15.1	0.04*
Weakness and sensory loss		79	25.3	84	26.9	0.59
Aphasia		45	14.4	18	5.8	0.001*
Urinary incontinence		38	12.2	49	15.7	0.25
Hemiplegia/Hemiparesis		89	28.5	51	16.3	0.001*
Grasp reflex		3	1.0	2	0.6	–
Facial palsy		19	6.1	9	2.9	0.03*
Dysarthria		4	1.3	3	1.0	–
Quadriplegia		3	1.0	1	0.3	–
Headache		7	2.2	3	1.0	–
Hemianopsia		5	1.6	2	0.6	–
Diplopia		6	1.9	3	1.0	–
Visual perceptual deficits		8	2.6	5	1.6	0.32
Ataxia and incoordination		12	3.8	7	2.2	0.18
Vomiting		9	2.9	14	4.5	0.37
Convulsions		3	1.0	3	1.0	–
SBP (mean ± SD)		161.4±19.6 mmHg		167.4±17.3 mmHg
DBP (mean ± SD)		93.7±22.8 mmHg		95.6±23.5 mmHg
GCS	≤8	46	14.8	33	10.6	0.06
	9–12	64	20.5	70	22.4
	13–15	40	12.8	59	18.9

Notes: Results are presented as frequency and percentage; Pearson’s chi-square was used. *Significance difference is found between male and female at p-value <0.05 from chi-square test.

Abbreviations: DBP, diastolic blood pressure; GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale; SBP, systolic blood pressure.

Table 4 Comparison of Stroke Outcomes by Sex in the Medical Ward of DCSH from January 2016 to December 2019

Outcome Status of Stroke Patients	Male		Female		P-value
	No. of Cases	%	No. of Cases	%
Discharged with complete resolution of neurological deficits	57	18.6	53	17.3	0.11
Discharged with neurologic deficit	18	5.9	24	7.8
Discharged against medical advice	37	12.0	32	10.4
Referred to higher health settings	6	2.0	13	4.2
Died	31	10.1	36	11.7

Note: Results are presented as frequency and percentage; Pearson’s chi-square was used.

Table 5 Comparison of the Proportion of Risk Factors for Stroke-Related Deaths by Sex in the Medical Ward of DCSH from January 2016 to December 2019

Risk Factors		Male		Female		p-value
		No. of Deaths	%	No. of Deaths	%
Hypertension		22	7.2	22	7.2	0.23
Diabetes mellitus		3	1.0	7	2.3	–
Hypertension/Diabetes mellitus		5	1.6	1	0.3	–
Previous stroke		5	1.6	4	1.3	–
Atrial fibrillation		9	2.9	10	3.3	0.62
Smoking		6	2.0	4	1.3	–
Taking alcohol		5	1.6	3	1.0	–
Structural heart diseases		7	2.3	8	2.6	0.53
Family history of stroke		2	0.7	3	1.0	–
Human immuno virus		2	0.7	4	1.3	–
Khat chewing		7	2.3	3	1.0	–
Obesity		4	1.3	2	0.7	–
Headache		3	1.0	2	0.7	–
GCS	≤8	17	5.5	20	6.5	0.46
	9–12	9	2.9	12	3.9
	13–15	5	1.6	4	1.3

Note: Results are presented as frequency and percentage, Pearson’s chi-square test.

Abbreviation: GCS, Glasgow Coma Scale.