Stroke: the influence of age upon outcome

This study is based upon 162 consecutive patients seen at a rehabilitation unit, and investigates the effect age has upon the manifestations and antecedents of stroke, and its outcome at six months. In this group of patients, age had little influence upon the severity of stroke, the deficits seen initially or the functional ability at six months. However, age had an influence upon the pattern of care given to these patients, in that older patients were likely to stay in hospital longer. There was an increasing proportion of women in the older age groups.