K. Hachisuka et al., GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DISABILITY AND LIFE-STYLE AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY STROKE PATIENTS IN KITAKYUSHU, JAPAN, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 79(8), 1998, pp. 998-1002
Objective: To examine whether there were differences in lifestyle and
performance of activities of daily living (ADL) between men and women
in a population of elderly stroke patients. Design: Case-comparison st
udy. Material and Methods: Sixty-eight men and 34 women who were elder
ly stroke patients living in the community with a spouse or family mem
bers were evaluated with the self-rating Barthel Index (SRBI), Frencha
y Activities Index (FAI), Stroke Impairment Assessment Set (SIAS), Fun
ctional Independence Measure (FIM), and a pedometer for physical activ
ity. Control subjects, 30 men and 30 women, were assessed with the FAI
. Results: Among the stroke subjects, there were no significant differ
ences in age, SRBI, motor score of the SIAS, or physical activity betw
een men and women; however, men had significantly lower values than di
d women for three FIM items and the total FIM score and for 6 FAI item
s and the total FAI score. Among control subjects, men had significant
ly lower values than did women for 7 FAI items and the total FAI score
(Tukey's test, p <.05). Conclusion: Among elderly stroke patients, me
n received more support from family members in ADL performance and had
less active lifestyles than did women, possibly because of cultural g
ender roles. (C) 1998 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medic
ine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.