A key surgery to lower stroke risk is less beneficial for women than men, according to a study from Dartmouth University.
In carotid artery disease, fatty deposits build up inside neck arteries, increasing the risk for stroke. A surgical procedure called endarterectomy can remove the plaque. The researchers found that within five years of surgery, 11.1% of female study participants experienced a stroke, compared to 8.9% of the men.
This gender disparity is concerning, considering the widespread use of endarterectomy, lead investigator Niveditta Ramkumar told the American Heart Association. Women are generally at higher risk for stroke, and the study results suggest that they may need a different treatment approach, she said.
“Biological sex needs to be at the forefront of our understanding of the effects of these treatments and their long-term outcomes,” Ramkumar concluded.
About 5% of people who have fatty deposits clogging 70% or more of their carotid arteries will have a stroke within five years, according to the AHA.
The study was published in the journal Circulation.
