COVID-19 and stroke in women: impact on clinical, psychosocial and research aspects

Despite the growing interest in gender medicine, the influence of sex and gender on human diseases, including stroke, continues to be underestimated and understudied. The COVID-19 pandemic has overall impacted not only the occurrence and management of stroke but has also exacerbated sex and gender disparities among both patients and healthcare providers. This paper aims to provide an updated overview on the influence of sex and gender in stroke pathophysiology and care during COVID-19 pandemic, through biological, clinical, psychosocial and research perspectives. Gender equity and awareness of the importance of sexual differences are sorely needed, especially in times of health crisis but have not yet been achieved to date. To this purpose, the sudden yet worldwide diffusion of COVID-19 represents a unique learning experience that highlights critical unmet needs also in gender medicine. The failures of this recent past should be kept as food for thought to inspire proper strategies reducing inequalities and to address women’s health and wellbeing issues, particularly in case of future pandemics.