Materials and Methods: Geriatric patients who had a neurological consultation following an acute ischemic stroke were evaluated in the study. Patients were divided into age groups of 65-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90 years and older. The demographic findings, the diseases of the patients, pre-stroke antiaggregant or anticoagulant treatment, previous history of cerebrovascular disease, presence of atrial fibrillation, laboratory data, imaging reports from initial presentation, Echocardiography and Carotid-Vertebral Doppler Ultrasonography results were recorded. Neurological deficits were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the Modified Rankin Score.
Results: The study evaluated 298 patients (161 females, 137 males). Significant differences were found in all four age groups in terms of the presence of diabetes mellitus. In relation to infarct localization, there were no significant differences between the four age groups. Previous antiaggregant or anticoagulant treatments were similar in all age groups. There were significant differences between the groups in terms of the presence of atrial fibrillation at presentation. In the 90 years and over age group, the values for the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Modified Rankin Score were significantly higher.
Conclusion: The incidence of stroke can be reduced by the regular evaluation of elderly individuals for modifiable risk factors and their management. In elderly individuals who had ischemic strokes, we recommend to comprehensive cardiac assessment, including procedures like a 24-hour Holter monitor and transesophageal echocardiography for cardioembolic origins.
Keywords : Stroke; Geriatric; Risk factors; Prognosis