Stroke in centenarians

Abstract

Aim: Reports on centenarians with stroke have thus far been casuistic. We present clinical characteristics and 1-month mortality in 39 centenarians admitted to Danish hospitals with acute stroke within 2000-2010.

Methods: A Danish stroke registry (2000-2010) contains information about 61 935 acute stroke patients among which 39 patients were centenarians. Data included age, sex, civil and housing status, stroke severity (Scandinavian Stroke Scale [SSS], 0 worst to 58 best), computed tomography scan, cardiovascular risk factors and death within 1 month after stroke. Data in centenarians were compared with similar data in stroke patients aged 40-69 years (n = 25 023), 70-79 years (n = 16 048), 80-89 years (n = 16 274) and 90-99 years (n = 3379).

Results: Of the 39 centenarians, 87% were women, 82% were living alone and 64% were living in their own home before the stroke. In general, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was lower in centenarians, particularly with regard to previous myocardial infarction, previous stroke and diabetes mellitus. Strokes were significantly more severe (SSS 25.4), and 1-month mortality (38.5%) was significantly higher in centenarians when compared with other age groups.

Conclusion: Centenarians with stroke are from a cardiovascular standpoint healthier than their younger counterparts. Yet, strokes in centenarians are more severe and associated with very high mortality.

Keywords: age; centenarian; mortality; risk factors; stroke.