Epidemiology of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in Women: Summary and Gaps Stroke epidemiology research predominantly describes IS events. Additional research is needed to understand sex differ- ences for hemorrhagic stroke events. Data are limited in terms of sex-, race-, and age-specific rates of stroke incidence, mortality, and case fatality. This represents an important gap, because disease patterns and outcomes have been shown to vary by these characteristics. Future studies should report data separately for men and women, stratify by age when examining sex differences in dis- ease rates, and clarify whether first-ever stroke events, recur- rent events, or both are being reported. In addition to reporting by sex and age, for each stroke subtype, the incidence, mortal- ity, and case fatality should be reported by race/ethnicity. In general, stroke event rates are lower in women than men, but sex comparisons based on age-adjusted rates mask important differences by age. There is a higher lifetime risk of stroke in women than men and a greater number of stroke deaths in women than men. Vascular Differences in Stroke Risk: Sex and Hypertension Hypertension is the most common modifiable risk factor for stroke in both men and women and has the highest population- There are a number of important sex dif- ferences in the prevalence, treatment, and pathophysiology of hypertension that should be highlighted to improve awareness and treatment of this risk factor in women. Sex Differences in Stroke Risk With Hypertension Among stroke patients, some studies,9,13,71,72,88,89 but not all,90,91 have shown that women are more likely to have hypertension than men. Similarly, women may have a higher risk of first stroke with hypertension. 