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The incidence of a cerebrovascular disease is three times higher in men compared to women. However, there is no difference in the prevalence cerebrovascular disease between men and women. What is the best explanation for this finding? A. Women receive more intensive medical care for cerebrovascular disease than men. B. The mortality rate is greater among women. C. The disease is less aggressive among women. D. Women are older than men when they are diagnosed with the disease.

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Final answer:

The best explanation for equal prevalence of cerebrovascular disease between genders despite a higher incidence in men is that the mortality rate from the disease is greater among women.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question seeks to understand why, despite a higher incidence of cerebrovascular disease among men compared to women, the prevalence is the same between genders. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a disease that develop within a particular time frame, while prevalence refers to the total number of cases, both new and existing, within a population at a given time. If men have a higher incidence but equal prevalence compared to women, it suggests that the mortality rate from cerebrovascular disease must be higher in women than in men, since the number of surviving patients ends up being the same within both genders.

Among the options provided, the best explanation for this finding would be:

B. The mortality rate is greater among women.

This can occur if women who have a cerebrovascular disease tend to die more quickly than men after the disease's onset, which would lead to a higher mortality rate among women. This balances the gender prevalence rate despite the higher incidence in men. Age, genetics, and lifestyle factors like smoking and diabetes are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but these do not directly explain the discrepancy between incidence and prevalence in the context of gender.

User Impurity
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Final answer:

The best explanation for the finding is that women receive more intensive medical care for cerebrovascular disease, leading to lower mortality and prevalence of the disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best explanation for the finding that the incidence of cerebrovascular disease is three times higher in men compared to women, but there is no difference in the prevalence of the disease between men and women, is that women receive more intensive medical care for cerebrovascular disease than men. This implies that although the disease occurs at a higher rate in men, women receive better treatment, which helps to lower their mortality and prevalence of the disease.

This finding can be explained by several factors:

Age: The incidence of cerebrovascular disease increases with age. Since women tend to live longer than men, they are more likely to receive a diagnosis at an older age, which may result in a higher prevalence of the disease.

Access to medical care: Women may have better access to medical care, including regular check-ups and screenings, which can lead to early detection and better management of cerebrovascular disease, therefore reducing its prevalence.

Treatment and outcomes: Women may receive more intensive medical care, such as medication, rehabilitation, and lifestyle interventions, which can lower their mortality and reduce the prevalence of the disease.

Overall, while the incidence of cerebrovascular disease may be higher in men, the combination of access to medical care and better treatment outcomes in women may explain the lack of difference in prevalence between men and women.

User Alex Tarasenko
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