5 ISC NEWS DAY 1 | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 StrokeConference.org #ISC25 Peering into the health gap between the sexes, physicians and researchers see numerous questions that, when answered, could provide vital insights into stroke risk, prevention and outcomes in women. Exploring such questions, across women’s lives and through the course of their care, is the focus of the ISC’s annual Paola De Rango Session, which takes place on Wednesday. The goal is to increase awareness of sex and gender differences in stroke and to improve prevention and treatment in women. “One area of need to address (in women’s) health equity includes an improved understanding of how risk, resilience and recovery are modified by changes in women’s physiology throughout the lifespan,” said Thalia Field, MD, FRCPC, MHSc, an associate professor of neurology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. “This includes puberty and menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and its late effects on frailty.” “We also need to take a genderfocused lens to understand how sociocultural and other intersectional identity considerations interface with biological factors to impact wellness, illness and recovery,” said Field, who will discuss women’s health and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) on Wednesday. During the first half of the session, speakers will present data on four areas of study pertinent to stroke risk in women: management of carotid stenosis, sleep disorders and disruptions, gender-affirming hormone therapies and CVT. Critical sex differences exist in these areas but largely have been understudied, Field said. For example, both stroke risk associated with carotid disease and the efficacy of surgery for carotid stenosis differ by sex, yet women continue to be underenrolled in relevant clinical trials. Similarly, sleep disturbances are a stroke risk factor that disproportionately affects women during peri- and postmenopause, but more research is needed to design effective interventions. It’s also critical to understand more about treatment using hormone therapies. Evolving data indicate elevated risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease associated with gender-affirming hormone therapies. For CVT, a condition more prevalent in women, specific risk factors include iron deficiency anemia from menorrhagia, exogenous hormones, pregnancy and autoimmune disease. From 66% to 75% of people with CVT are women, usually younger, Field said, but this is because CVT is commonly seen in association with oral contraceptives, pregnancy and the postpartum period. Also, as with other types of stroke, women are more likely to have delays in correct diagnosis, she said. Register today for the Removing Barriers to Equitable Health eModules learn.heart.org Access for Free These free accredited activities will allow healthcare professionals to explore the disparities in health outcomes for various populations, examine how environmental factors and structural racism can create barriers to health, and discover best practices and solutions to help overcome those barriers. CE and MOC credits available This activity is supported by an educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb. Module 2: Health Care Systems Module 1: Public Health PAID ADVERTISEMENT Improving stroke care for women Paola De Rango session delves into expanded areas of study. see PAOLA DE RANGO, page 15 The Paola De Rango Session: Understudied Factors Contributing to Disparities in Stroke Risk and Outcomes in Women Across the Continuum of Disease and Care 9:15-10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 Room 151 UPCOMING SESSION Field
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