New research suggests that women who have experienced strokes may be more prone to skipping essential medications aimed at preventing subsequent strokes compared to men. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlight that women, who are already at an increased risk for recurrent strokes, are more likely to report not adhering to prescribed cholesterol-lowering and blood-thinning medications. This issue is particularly pronounced among Mexican American women, demonstrating a significant gender disparity in medication nonadherence.

Although the study did not delve into the specific reasons behind participants skipping their medications, the authors indicated that various factors might play a role in these differences. Lead researcher Chen Chen, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at the University of Michigan, noted that women—especially those from the Mexican American community—are often caregivers for family members. This caregiving responsibility may impede their ability to focus on their own health needs, potentially leading to a greater likelihood of not taking their prescribed medications.

Another potential reason for the tendency among women to miss doses of cholesterol-lowering medications, or statins, could be adverse side effects, which include muscle pain and weakness. Senior study author Dr. Lynda Lisabeth emphasized the importance of healthcare providers screening for these issues and discussing the critical nature of adhering to medication regimens with their patients, which could help lower the risk of subsequent strokes.

The research involved an analysis of self-reported adherence data from 1,324 participants, whose average age was 66, all of whom had suffered their first ischemic stroke between 2008 and 2019. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot or plaque obstructs blood flow to the brain. The study gleaned data from the Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi Project, which enlisted participants from Nueces County, Texas; nearly half were women, and 58% identified as Mexican American.

Participants were questioned about their adherence to four distinct types of stroke prevention medications: cholesterol-lowering, blood-pressure-reducing, and antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications, which serve to prevent blood clots. Those who reported rarely or never missing dosages were deemed adherent, while those who occasionally, frequently, or very often missed doses—or who indicated they had stopped or failed to fill their prescriptions—were considered nonadherent.

Findings revealed that within three months post-stroke, 11.5% of the subjects reported not taking their medication as prescribed. Women were found to be 80% more likely to skip doses of cholesterol-lowering medications than men and were 53% more prone to miss antiplatelet medication doses; however, adherence rates for blood pressure-lowering drugs did not differ between genders. Among the Mexican American participants, women were three times more likely than men to skip doses of cholesterol-lowering medications. Additionally, older or married women tended to miss doses more frequently compared to their male counterparts.

The research aligns with previous studies that indicated a higher occurrence of nonadherence to secondary stroke prevention in women, according to Dr. Fernando D. Testai, who was not involved in this particular study. He highlighted the value of examining medication adherence during the critical period shortly after an acute stroke—a time when the potential for a subsequent stroke is at its peak. Addressing the contributing factors to the observed differences in stroke care based on gender, particularly among minority groups, should be prioritized in efforts to reduce social inequities in healthcare, he concluded.