Ischemic stroke in patients older and younger than 80 years

OBJECTIVES: To compare short-term outcome and long-term mortality in old and younger patients with ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that short-term outcomes in patients≥80 and <80 years with no neurological worsening are similar. METHODS: The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used to assess stroke severity. Short-term outcome was determined by the NIHSS score 7 days after stroke onset. Neurological worsening was defined as NIHSS score worsening >3 points. Risk factors, prior diseases, complications, and long-term mortality were registered. RESULTS: The study includes 592 patients≥80 years and 1275 patients<80 years. High NIHSS score on admission and day 7, neurological worsening, and complications were significantly more frequent among patients≥80 years. In patients with no neurological worsening, improvement in NIHSS score on day 7 was not associated with age≥80 years (P=0.75). Long-term mortality was associated with the number of risk factors in both age groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Avoiding neurological worsening may have a large potential for reducing the difference in short-term outcome between old and young stroke patients by preventing treatable complications including pneumonia. Risk factor burden is important for long-term survival in both stroke patients≥80 years and <80 years.