Comparison of the Risk Factor Profile, Stroke Subtypes, and Outcomes Between Stroke Patients Aged 65 Years or Younger and Elderly Stroke Patients: A Hospital-based Study

Background: Risk factors for stroke, stroke subtypes, and outcomes observed in stroke patients younger than 65 years are different from those observed in elderly stroke patients. The aim of the study was to compare the risk factor profiles, stroke subtypes, and outcomes between stroke patients younger than 65 years and elderly stroke patients. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the risk factor, stroke subtypes, and outcomes for 368 younger stroke patients (aged 20-64 years) and 605 elderly stroke patients (aged 65-98 years). Results: High stroke prevalence was observed in younger patients who were predominantly males with a history of smoking, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and high body mass index. These patients were less likely to have atrial fibrillation, prior stroke, systemic infection, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score on admission, and prolonged stay in the acute ward of the hospital compared with elderly patients. Further, regarding stroke subtype, younger patients showed a higher frequency of lacunar infarct and stroke of other demonstrated etiology whereas elderly patients were more likely to have cardioembolism and total anterior circulation infarct. Younger patients showed favorable outcomes at the 3-month follow-up after discharge. Conclusion: We conclude that, apart from risk factors and stroke subtypes, the functional outcomes observed in the two groups differed. Early identification of these differences with good management may help to improve the clinical outcomes in younger stroke patients. Copyright (C) 2012, Taiwan Society of Geriatric Emergency & Critical Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.