11 Sept 2023 • This study aimed to investigate the association between infertility treatment and the risk of hospitalization due to stroke, both hemorrhagic and ischemic, within a year of delivery.

The research involved a large cohort of 31,339,991 patients, of which 287,813 underwent infertility treatment, while 31,052,178 conceived spontaneously. The key findings revealed that individuals who received infertility treatment had a notably higher risk of hospitalization for stroke within 12 months post-delivery when compared to those who conceived naturally.

• Specifically, the rate of stroke-related hospitalization was 37 per 100,000 individuals (105 patients) in the infertility treatment group, whereas it was 29 per 100,000 individuals (9027 patients) in the spontaneous conception group. There was 66% higher risk compared to the spontaneous conception group.

• Further analysis revealed that the risk of hospitalization for hemorrhagic stroke was even greater than that for ischemic stroke in the infertility treatment group. Moreover, the risk of stroke hospitalization increased with the time elapsed between delivery and the stroke event, particularly for hemorrhagic strokes.

In conclusion, this cohort study suggests that infertility treatment is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for stroke within one year after delivery. This elevated risk was noticeable as early as 30 days post-delivery. The findings underscore the importance of timely postpartum monitoring and long-term follow-up for individuals who have undergone infertility treatment to mitigate the risk of stroke.

Source: JAMA | Read full story