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Review

Guidelines for the prevention of stroke in women: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Cheryl Bushnell et al. Stroke. 2014 May.

Erratum in

  • Stroke. 2014 Oct;45(10);e214
  • Stroke.2014 May;45(5):e95

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this statement is to summarize data on stroke risk factors that are unique to and more common in women than men and to expand on the data provided in prior stroke guidelines and cardiovascular prevention guidelines for women. This guideline focuses on the risk factors unique to women, such as reproductive factors, and those that are more common in women, including migraine with aura, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Writing group members were nominated by the committee chair on the basis of their previous work in relevant topic areas and were approved by the American Heart Association (AHA) Stroke Council's Scientific Statement Oversight Committee and the AHA's Manuscript Oversight Committee. The panel reviewed relevant articles on adults using computerized searches of the medical literature through May 15, 2013. The evidence is organized within the context of the AHA framework and is classified according to the joint AHA/American College of Cardiology and supplementary AHA Stroke Council methods of classifying the level of certainty and the class and level of evidence. The document underwent extensive AHA internal peer review, Stroke Council Leadership review, and Scientific Statements Oversight Committee review before consideration and approval by the AHA Science Advisory and Coordinating Committee.

Results: We provide current evidence, research gaps, and recommendations on risk of stroke related to preeclampsia, oral contraceptives, menopause, and hormone replacement, as well as those risk factors more common in women, such as obesity/metabolic syndrome, atrial fibrillation, and migraine with aura.

Conclusions: To more accurately reflect the risk of stroke in women across the lifespan, as well as the clear gaps in current risk scores, we believe a female-specific stroke risk score is warranted.

Keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; atrial fibrillation; hormone replacement therapy; menopause; metabolic syndrome X; preeclampsia/eclampsia; sex differences; stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

The American Heart Association makes every effort to avoid any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of an outside relationship or a personal, professional, or business interest of a member of the writing panel. Specifically, all members of the writing group are required to complete and submit a Disclosure Questionnaire showing all such relationships that might be perceived as real or potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
US stroke mortality rates for women, 2009. Am Indian indicates American Indian; Non-Hisp, non-Hispanic; and PI, Pacific Islander.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Female-male US stroke mortality ratio, 2009. Am Indian Indicates American Indian; Non-Hisp, non-Hispanic; and PI, Pacific Islander.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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