Żanna Pastuszak1, Ewa Koźniewska2, Adam Stępień3, Anna Piusińska-Macoch3, Zbigniew Czernicki4, Waldemar Koszewski4. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: zpastuszak@imdik.pan.pl. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Pawińskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland. 3. Department of Neurology, Military Institute of Medicine, ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Second Faculty of the Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Cegłowska 80, 01-809 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The European population is aging and the number of elderly patients suffering from ischemic brain stroke increases. A better knowledge of the correlation between the risk factors and the course of the disease in old people may be useful for planning medical care and prophylactic strategies. AIM: This prospective study aimed to perform a demographic and clinical analysis of the etiology of ischemic stroke, survival rate and severity of post-stroke disability in patients who developed ischemic stroke at the age of over 85 years in the Polish population. METHOD: The study group consisted of 159 patients over 85 years old with ischemic stroke. The prevalence of risk factors such as sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and diabetes was evaluated. The outcome was assessed using the Barthel scale and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. RESULTS: The most common risk factors of ischemic stroke were hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation had a more severe course of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: The course of brain stroke in the Polish population is more severe in patients over 85 years old than in younger ones. The key risk factor in this group is atrial fibrillation.
INTRODUCTION: The European population is aging and the number of elderly patients suffering from ischemic brain stroke increases. A better knowledge of the correlation between the risk factors and the course of the disease in old people may be useful for planning medical care and prophylactic strategies. AIM: This prospective study aimed to perform a demographic and clinical analysis of the etiology of ischemic stroke, survival rate and severity of post-stroke disability in patients who developed ischemic stroke at the age of over 85 years in the Polish population. METHOD: The study group consisted of 159 patients over 85 years old with ischemic stroke. The prevalence of risk factors such as sex, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and diabetes was evaluated. The outcome was assessed using the Barthel scale and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. RESULTS: The most common risk factors of ischemic stroke were hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Patients with atrial fibrillation had a more severe course of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: The course of brain stroke in the Polish population is more severe in patients over 85 years old than in younger ones. The key risk factor in this group is atrial fibrillation.