GENDER DIFFERENCES IN DISABILITY AND LIFE-STYLE AMONG COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY STROKE PATIENTS IN KITAKYUSHU, JAPAN

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.