Geriatric syndromes in older stroke survivors: data from the multicenter cross-sectional study EVKALIPT.

Abstract

Background: Advanced age is a primary risk factor for geriatric syndromes (GSs) and stroke, yet the association between stroke history and the prevalence of these syndromes in long-term survivors remains insufficiently characterized. The current analysis aimed to investigate the associations between a history of stroke, frailty, and other GSs in individuals aged ≥65 years.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the cross-sectional multicenter study EVKALIPT.

Results: The analysis included 4294 participants (median [interquartile range] age: 78 [71, 85] years). Stroke prevalence was 14.9%. Based on the SPPB test, the cohort comprised 794 (18.5%) nonfrail, 807 (18.8%) prefrail, and 2693 (62.7%) frail patients. The prevalence of stroke history was significantly higher among frail patients (18.1%) compared to nonfrail (9.9%) and prefrail (9.0%) participants (P for trend <0.001). Stroke survivors showed a higher frequency of dependence in all domains of the Barthel Index (basic activities of daily living) and the Lawton Scale (instrumental activities of daily living). All GSs were more prevalent in the stroke group except for orthostatic hypotension. Univariate regression analysis indicated that stroke was associated with 1.4 to 3.9 times higher odds of these GSs. In a multivariate model adjusted for age and sex, seven GSs remained independently associated with a history of stroke (odds ratio 1.24 to 2.23).

Conclusions: A history of stroke is significantly associated with frailty and a higher burden of GSs in older adults. These results highlight the need for comprehensive geriatric assessment in stroke survivors to address their complex functional and clinical needs.