Influence of Hospital Type on Outcomes of Individuals Aged 80 and Older with Stroke Treated Using Intravenous Thrombolysis

Objectives: The aim of the study was to confirm the safety and effectiveness of using intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with individuals aged 80 and older in routine practice in different hospital settings.

Design: Observasional registry.

Setting: Prospective multicenter population-based registry of acute stroke patients treated with reperfusion therapies in Catalonia, Spain (Sistema Online d'Informació de l'Ictus Agut).

Participants: Individuals treated only with IVT (N = 3,231; 1,189 (36.8%) aged ≥80).

Measurements: Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, mortality, and favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score = 0-2) at 3 months were evaluated according to hospital characteristics. Treating hospitals were classified in three categories: comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs), primary stroke centers (PSCs), and community hospitals operating a telestroke system (TS). First individuals aged 80 and older were compared with those younger than 80, and then participants aged 80 and older were focused on.

Results: Participants aged 80 and older had significantly higher baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, longer onset to treatment times, and worse outcomes than younger participants. For participants aged 80 and older, 90-day mortality was 23.2%, with 38.7% having favorable outcomes at 3 months. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH; Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-MOnitoring STudy definition) was observed in 4.7% of subjects. None of the risk factors differed significantly between participants treated in different types of hospitals. Basal stroke severity measured according to NIHSS score was not significantly different either. The three different types of hospitals achieved similar outcomes, although the TS and PSC hospitals had significantly higher proportions of SICH (6.3% and 6.3%, respectively) than the CSC (3.2%).

Conclusion: Older adults with acute stroke treated with IVT had similar outcomes regardless of hospital characteristics.