[Risk factors, etiology and prognosis in patients older than 80 years old with ischemic stroke].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to analyze differences between patients aged 80 years or less and those aged more than 80 years old a hospital series of ischemic stroke.

Material And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack requiring admission to the Neurology Service of the Dr. Negrín University Hospital of Gran Canaria (Spain) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2006. Data were gathered on hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, ischemic cardiopathy (IC), atrial fibrillation (AF), the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) classification, as well as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) scale and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge.

Results: A total of 850 patients were included. Age was >80 years in 106 (12.4%) and was <80 years in 744 (87.6%). In the group aged>80 years, 43.4% were men and 56.6% were women (64.1% men and 35.9% women in the group aged<80 years). Hypertension was present in 81.1% of patients aged>80 years (68.1% in those aged<80 years); previous DM was found in 29.2% (39.3% in the group aged<80 years); hyperlipidemia was present in 26.4% (40.2% in the group aged<80); IC was found in 16.9% (15.8% in the group aged<80); AF was found in 40% (20.9% in the group aged<80 years). In the group of patients aged>80 years, 23.6% had atherothrombotic stroke (19.3% in those aged<80 years); 38.7% were cardioembolic (19.3% in the group aged<80 years); 10.4% were lacunar (22.6% in the group aged<80 years); and 24.5% was of undetermined origin (28.6% in the group aged<80 years). The mRS at discharge was 80 years.

Conclusions: Ischemic stroke in patients over 80 years old leads to certain differences in relation to risk factors, stroke etiology and stroke severity.