title: Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in octogenarians compared with younger patients: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the safety and efficacy of endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke in octogenarians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies comparing outcomes of octogenarians and younger patients after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized search of the medical literature from 1990 to 2012 was performed to identify comparative studies of endovascular treatment of ischemic stroke patients 80 years or older and younger patients. Data on clinical outcomes, mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and recanalization were abstracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from eight studies with 2729 patients were included in the final analysis. Good functional outcome defined as modified Rankin score 2 or less within 90 days was more common in younger patients compared with octogenarians [odds ratio 2.694; 95% confidence interval 1.941-3.740, P < 0.001). Symptomatic hemorrhage and death were significantly more come in patients 80 years or older (odds ratio 1.604; 95% confidence interval 1.013-2.540, P = 0.04 and odds ratio 3.695; 95% confidence interval 2.517-5.424, P < 0.001, respectively). Successful recanalization defined as Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) 2-3 was seen less frequently in older patients; however, this did not reach statistical significance (odds ratio 0.814; 95% confidence interval 0.522-1.269, P = 0.364).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formal meta-analysis showed that octogenarians are less likely to achieve functional independence and have higher rates of mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage following endovascular treatment for ischemic stroke compared with younger patients. Decisions regarding endovascular treatment of elderly patients should be individualized until randomized controlled trials are available.
authors: Department of Neurological Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors: E Jesús
authors: EJ
authors: Duffis
authors: Wenzhuan
authors: W
authors: He
authors: Charles J
authors: CJ
authors: Prestigiacomo
authors: Chirag D
authors: CD
authors: Gandhi
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: elderly; endovascular; ischemic stroke; thrombolysis