title: Treating the elderly stroke patient: complications, controversies, and best care metrics.
abstract: Acute stroke is a devastating disease that affects almost 800,000 Americans annually. Worldwide, the incidence of stroke is rapidly increasing. Although stroke can affect all age groups, patients over age 80 are at much higher risk for ischemic stroke. Despite this, there are disparities in thrombolytic treatment rates, and as well as outcomes, between elderly stroke patients and their younger counterparts. This article discusses what is currently known about the elderly stroke patient for a greater understanding of the disease burden, research limitations and potential treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. heitschl@wusm.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Heitsch
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Panagos
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005853:Geriatrics; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator