Women have a poorer quality of life after a stroke than men

A US research paper has found that women suffer more depression and anxiety, pain and discomfort, and have more restricted mobility.

The research which was carried out at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, North Carolina, and published in the journal ‘Neurology’, assessed the mental and physical health of 1,370 male and female patients both at three months and a year after a stroke.

At three months, women were more likely than men to report problems with mobility, pain and discomfort, anxiety and depression, but the difference was greatest in those aged over 75.

After a year, women still had lower quality-of-life scores overall than men but the difference between them was smaller.

Dr Madina Kara, a neuroscientist at the UK Stroke Association, said: "This study shows that women fare worse after stroke compared to men. However, the reasons for this are not entirely clear.

"It also shows that women over 65 are more likely to be living alone, which could be a contributing factor to their reduced quality of life, as they have inadequate support."

She added: "We already know that women tend to have strokes at a later age than men, which lowers their chances of natural recovery post-stroke.

"What this study highlights is that women may not be getting the support they need to improve their quality of life after stroke.

"It is essential that all stroke survivors receive the best care and support from health and social services to make their best possible recovery."

The study did say that more people survive a stroke now than 10 years ago because of improved treatment and prevention.