Sex Differences in the Clinical Features, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: a Large Hospital-based Stroke Registry in China

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is common in China. However, the sex differences in clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes of ICH remain controversial. Between 2005 and 2014, we recruited patients with primary ICH in Tianjin, China, and evaluated sex differences in clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes at 3, 12, and 36 months after ICH. The 1,325 patients included 897 men (67.7%) and 428 women (32.3%). The mean age at ICH onset was younger among men (59.14 years) than among women (63.12 years, P < 0.001). Men were more likely to have a hematoma in the basal ganglia, while women were more likely to have one in the thalamus. Women had higher frequencies of urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity. Men had a greater risk of death at 3 months after ICH. However, no sex differences were observed for mortality at 12 and 36 months after ICH or for recurrence and dependency at 3, 12, and 36 months after ICH. These findings suggested that it crucial to strengthen management of AF and complications in patients with ICH, especially management of blood pressure in men for reducing the mortality rates and the burden of ICH in China.