Stroke affects 33 million individuals worldwide each year.1 As of 2012, stroke was the third leading cause of death and the third leading cause of years of life lost due to premature mortality worldwide.2 In the US, stroke is the fourth leading cause of death, accounting for 1 in 20 deaths, and is the leading cause of serious long-term disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke accounted for 33% of potentially preventable deaths in the US between 2008 and 2010.3 Nearly 87% of all strokes are ischemic
Stroke in women is a growing public health concern. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in women ages 20–59 worldwide; by current estimates, women account for approximate 60% of all stroke deaths.1,4 In the .60 age group, stroke is the second leading cause of death among women. Recent research has also suggested that, among first-ever stroke patients, women are more frequently older, are more likely to have hypertension, atrial fibrillation (Afib), and cardioembolic infarction, and experience reduced mortality and length of hospitalization