Your Risk of Having a Stroke Changes as You Get Older

A neurologist from Copenhagen, Denmark, presented an analysis of risk factors for stroke at different ages at the 7^th World Stoke Congress.  Dr Christensen had data on risk factors for two major age groups – those older and those younger than 80.  There was information on 757 consecutive patients discharged with computerized tomography (CT) diagnosis of ischemic stroke. 

Dr Christensen’s main findings can be summarized as follows:

In the over-80 group, the proportion of women rises to 65% (42% in the below-80 group). 

Atrial fibrillation is present in 39% of the over 80s, vs. 23% of the under 80s.

Smokers make up 45% of the over 80s, vs. 14% of the under 80s.

Diabetes was seen in 18% of the under 80s, and in 11% of the over 80s. 

Atrial fibrillation, a well-recognized risk for stroke, increases with age; it’s present in 1.5% of those aged 50-60, rising to 23.5% of people aged 80-90.  The associated risk of stroke is an important reason to have it treated effectively, and to take anticoagulants to reduce the likelihood of a thrombus (clot) being released from the heart to the brain.

Two final points – stroke severity was similar in the two groups, as was survival at one year post-stroke.  These are good reasons to treat the over-80 stroke victims effectively, and give them an equal chance of full rehabilitation.