Increased risk of stroke in patients who undergo cesarean section delivery: a nationwide population-based study

OBJECTIVE: This study used a population-based dataset to determine whether (compared with vaginal deliveries), cesarean section deliveries increase the risk of postpartum stroke during the 3-, 6-, or 12-month period after delivery. STUDY DESIGN: This study used 1998-2003 records from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for 987,010 women with singleton deliveries from 1998-2002. Cox proportional hazard regressions were carried out to compute stroke-free survival rates between the 2 delivery modes. RESULTS: The regression model indicated that, compared with patients who delivered vaginally, the hazard ratio for postpartum stroke among those who delivered by cesarean section was 1.67 times greater within 3 months of delivery (95% CI, 1.29-2.16), was 1.61 times greater within 6 months of delivery ( 95% CI, 1.31-1.98), and was 1.49 times greater within 12 months of delivery ( 95% CI, 1.27-1.76). CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that cesarean section delivery is an independent risk factor for stroke.