Age-Related Disparities in Stroke Knowledge Among Community Older Adults

Background: This study aimed to investigate the disparities in stroke knowledge between older adults and the oldest old. Methods: Family physicians conducted a cross-sectional survey through face-to-face interviews with the older and oldest old adults of two suburban communities in the Minhang district, Shanghai between October 1, 2020, and November 30, 2020. All participants were classified as oldest old (age ≥80 years) and older adults (age 60-79 years). Between-group differences in stroke knowledge were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 466 older adults including 101 (21.67%) oldest old persons were qualified. Older adults were more familiar with the risk factors and symptoms of stroke than the oldest old. By multivariable logistic regression analysis, older adults were more familiar with the following risk factors: smoking [odds ratio (OR) 0.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16-0.61], alcohol abuse (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.87), dyslipidemia (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.85), and obesity (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.53) than the oldest old. Regarding stroke symptoms, older adults were more aware regarding vision alteration (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.25-0.69) and face-drop (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.35-0.95) than the oldest old. The oldest old were less aware of acute stroke therapy (OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.48) and calling the emergency medical service (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.70) than older adults. Finally, the older adults used television (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28-1.0), WeChat (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.05-0.89), and the community bulletin board (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.23-0.80) as knowledge sources more than the oldest old. Conclusion: The older adults and the oldest old had significantly high disparities in stroke knowledge. Given the aging population across China, the life expectancy is expected to be longer in future decades. These differences should be addressed in stroke educational campaigns targeting the oldest old.