Age-specific clinical characteristics and outcome in patients over 60 years old with large hemispheric infarction

We aimed to investigate age-specific clinical characteristics in patients aged >60 years with large hemispheric infarction (LHI).

We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients with LHI. Patients were divided into two groups: ≤60 vs. >60 years, and demographics, vascular risk factors, clinical feature, in-hospital treatment, 3-month mortality, and unfavorable outcome (defined as a mRS score of 4-6) rate were compared.

Of the 256 cases included, 140 (54.7%) were older than 60 years. Compared with the younger, the older patients had higher rates of hypertension (66.4% vs. 31.0%), coronary heart disease (19.3% vs. 2.6%), atrial fibrillation (53.6% vs. 31.0%; all p < 0.001), more history of stroke (21.4% vs. 5.2%, p < 0.001), less history of rheumatic heart disease (16.4% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.009), and alcohol consumption (12.1% vs. 21.6%, p = 0.043). Cardio-embolism is the most common stroke etiology regardless of age (55.7% and 38.8%, respectively). Furthermore, the elderly less frequently received decompressive hemicraniectomy (4.3% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.005) and mechanical ventilation (7.9% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.035) and had a higher frequency of stroke-related complication (83.6% vs. 66.4%, p = 0.001). A total of 26 (18.6%) older patients and 15 (12.9%) younger patients died during hospitalization (p = 0.221), and 59 (42.1%) older patients and 35 (30.2%) younger patients died at 3 months (p = 0.061). Patient aged >60 years had significantly higher unfavorable outcome rate at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio, OR 4.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08-8.88; p < 0.05]. However, older age is not independently associated with 3-month mortality (42.1% vs. 30.2%, p = 0.095 [log-rank test]).

Large hemispheric infarction patients over 60 years old were a little more than those aged ≤60 years and constitute more than half of those suffered from malignant brain edema and two thirds of in-hospital death and 3-month mortality. The elderly had more cardio-origin risk factors, received less aggressive hospital treatment, and showed higher risk of unfavorable outcome than the younger.