Thrombectomy in large vessel occlusion stroke-Does age matter?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Endovascular treatment (EVT) is standard for emergent large vessel occlusion (LVO).
• Elderly patients (>80 years) are underrepresented in trials, making EVT benefits debated.
• This demographic is growing, necessitating further research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of age on EVT outcomes in emergent LVO patients.
• To determine if age alone should influence EVT decisions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 225 patients undergoing EVT for LVO.
• Clinical outcomes assessed via NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale).
• Long-term functional outcome measured by 90-day mRS (modified Rankin Scale).

Main Results:

• Age did not significantly predict neurological improvement (NIHSS) after adjusting for confounders.
• Increased age correlated with higher NIHSS at discharge, though this trend became non-significant after adjustment.
• Higher age significantly predicted worse long-term functional outcomes (mRS) even after confounder adjustment.

Conclusions:

• Age has a limited role in predicting neurological recovery post-EVT.
• Age significantly impacts long-term functional outcomes following EVT for LVO.
• EVT decisions in elderly patients should not be based solely on age.