Sex differences in stroke care

[1] The use of rt-PA (Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator), a protein enzyme that helps break up blood clots, is a common treatment for stroke.

Research indicates that women have between 22% and 30% lower odds of receiving rt-PA treatment for acute stroke than men.

[4] Between 1997 and 2006, women hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were less likely to receive cerebro-vascular and cardiac reperfusion/revascularization therapies, intravenous tPA (Tissue Plasminogen Activator to break up clots), catheter angiography (imaging of blood vessels), angioplasty/stent (opening of blocked blood vessels), and carotid endarterectomy (surgical removal of plaque).

[5] In the United States, the current standard for acquiring health coverage by an individual and their family is through a group plan made available by an employer.

[6] Even for those individuals who are covered by employer-based plans, women remain disproportionately underinsured, meaning that their medical expenses after insurance (and excluding premiums) represent 10 percent or more of their incomes.