Gender differences in locomotion activity after stroke

Abstract

Gender differences in locomotion activity after stroke were investigated in 2,344 consecutive patients with stroke who were admitted to our hospital between January 1986 and December 2000. They included 625 patients with brain hemorrhage and 1,719 patients with brain infarction. The brain infarction was classified according to criteria based on the clinical findings into thrombotic infarction (n=594), lacunar infarction (n=608), and cardiogenic embolism (n=441). The locomotion activity evaluated at the time of discharge was classified into the following 5 categories: (1) no significant disability; (2) slight disability to walk; (3) assisted with cane or braces; (4) using a wheelchair; (5) bedridden. After brain hemorrhage, women showed worse ability to walk than men at discharge (P<0.05). After brain infarction, female patients also showed worse locomotion activity than male patients. Multiple regression analysis revealed that locomotion activity after brain infarction was influenced by gender in addition to age, size of lesion and systolic blood pressure on admission. These findings suggest that gender differences in locomotion activity exist after stroke, particularly after brain infarction.