The Impact of Demographic Changes on the Presentation and Outcome of Stroke: Experiences of the Oldest Old in the Murrumbidgee Region

Objectives: To build a profile of the experiences of stroke in the oldest old in the Murrumbidgee region and compare variables with two younger cohorts to test hypotheses about background, treatment and outcomes. Methods: Prospective data from 100 stroke patients consecutively admitted to the Wagga Wagga Rural Referral Hospital Acute Stroke Unit was reviewed from a stroke database. Comparisons were made between the young old (65-74), old-old (75 to 84) and oldest old (85 and older). Results: Older stroke patients were predominantly female with poorer premorbid functional status. Atrial fibrillation (p = 0.008) and hypertension (p = 0.01) were more common with advancing age. Smoking rates (p = 0.006) were higher in younger patients. Stroke mechanism was predominantly cardioembolic in older patients. Outcomes were poorer with rates of dependency (p = 0.03) and residential aged care facility placement (p = 0.06) increased. Conclusion: These data signal how stroke may manifest in our ageing population in the future.