Inconsistent results have been reported for the impact of sex on stroke outcomes. We investigated the differences in health-related quality of life between adult male and female stroke survivors in Northeastern China. Information on background variables was collected during hospital stay. Follow-up data were obtained through a phone interview 6 months after discharge, which included the Barthel Index and a 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) reflecting overall health status. The independent effects of sex on activities of daily living independence (Barthel Index >= 95) were analyzed. Our results showed that female stroke patients were older than male stroke patients and were more likely to have transient ischemic attack and hypertension. Male stroke patients were more likely to have a history of smoking, heart disease and dyslipidemia, while female patients were less likely to achieve daily living independence. The mean scores of physical functioning, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health in the SF-36 survey were significantly higher in men than woman. Regression analyses confirmed that female sex was adversely associated with overall health status at discharge. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that there were sex differences in stroke recovery and quality of life among Chinese stroke survivors at 6 months post-discharge, with an overall worse stroke outcome for female stroke survivors. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.