Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40186421›Full record

Observational studyEuropean journal of neurology2025

Sex Differences in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source: Echocardiographic Features and Clinical Outcomes.

Angelo Cascio Rizzo, Ghil Schwarz, Andrea Bonelli, Chiara Ceresa, Benedetta De Chiara, Antonella Moreo, Maria Sessa

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in European journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Angelo Cascio RizzoNeurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3258-5061
Ghil SchwarzNeurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8465-3946
Andrea BonelliCardiology, De Gasperis Cardio Center, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
Chiara CeresaNeurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
Benedetta De ChiaraCardiology, De Gasperis Cardio Center, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
Antonella MoreoCardiology, De Gasperis Cardio Center, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.
Maria SessaNeurology and Stroke Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSex differences in stroke are well-documented, but in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate sex-related differences in clinical and cardiac features and stroke outcomes in ESUS.

methodsRetrospective observational single-center study including consecutive ESUS patients. Multivariate regression analyses evaluated the association between sex, echocardiographic features, and 90-day outcomes. Cox regression assessed the independent effect of sex on ischemic stroke recurrence, all-cause death, and atrial fibrillation detection after stroke (AFDAS).

resultsAmong 556 patients, 248 (44.6%) were women, who were older and had more severe strokes. Women exhibited larger left atria (LA) as evidenced by a higher LA volume index (adjusted β-coefficient = 2.59, 95% CI 0.53-4.65, p = 0.014) and more valve abnormalities, such as mitral annulus calcification (aOR 2.72; 95% CI 1.43-5.20, p = 0.002). Men showed more markers of left ventricular (LV) disease, including reduced ejection fraction < 50% (aOR 0.44; 95% CI 0.20-0.93, p = 0.033) and LV wall motion abnormalities (aOR 0.37; 95% CI 0.19-0.74, p = 0.005). In multivariate analyses, the female sex was independently associated with reduced all-cause death (aHR 0.59; 95% CI 0.38-0.91, p = 0.019) and showed a trend toward higher AFDAS risk (aHR 1.57; 95% CI 0.99-2.49, p = 0.053). No association was found with 90-day outcomes or stroke recurrence.

conclusionESUS patients exhibit significant sex-based differences in echocardiographic features, with women showing larger LA and more valve abnormalities, while men present greater LV dysfunction. Female sex is independently associated with a lower risk of long-term mortality and a potentially higher risk of AFDAS. These findings underscore the need for individualized, sex-specific ESUS management strategies.

Indexed as

Embolic StrokeSex CharacteristicsVentricular Dysfunction, LeftAgedAged, 80 and overAtrial FibrillationEchocardiographyFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesSex FactorsAFDASdeathechocardiographyESUSischemic strokemortalitysex differencesstroke recurrence

Identifiers

PMID40186421
PMCPMC11971535

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.