To determine if there is an interaction of sex and diabetes mellitus (DM) on stroke severity. 

Numerous studies have demonstrated that DM leads to a significantly increased chance of having a stroke compared to non-diabetics; however, the relationship between DM and stroke severity has yet to be elucidated. Furthermore, studies show that men are far more likely to develop DM and strokes in their lifetime, yet there are few studies investigating whether stroke severity is influenced by gender and DM. Therefore, we investigate the relationship between sex and DM and its effect on stroke severity using the NIHSS, a validated, reliable 15-item neurological scale. Understanding this relationship could enhance predictive models of stroke severity in an urban, predominantly minority ischemic stroke cohort.

Subjects ≥ 18 years old with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke within the past 3 years were prospectively evaluated at Kings County Hospital Center, University Hospital of Brooklyn Neurology Department Stroke Clinic or admitted in the SUNY DHSU/UHB Rehabilitation Department, were screened for eligibility to participate in this study. Documentation of past medical history and NIHSS scores were completed by physicians and accessed using HealthBridge, the EMR system for DHSU. 

This study consisted of 120 participants with a history of ischemic stroke and other risk factors. Of the participants, the mean age and NIHSS score were 66 and 4, respectively. 44.2% of the participants were males and 60% had a medical history of Diabetes Mellitus. A general linear model was constructed to predict log10(NIHSSS+1); predictors were DM status, gender and age. There was no significant DM by gender interaction (p=0.780). The model contained no statistically significant ability to predict the stroke severity (omnibus test p=0.582).

Stroke severity within an urban, predominantly minority ischemic stroke cohort was not significantly different based on gender, the presence of DM, or both.