13 Aug 2024 • Older large ischemic stroke patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy face higher risks, with those over 80 experiencing a dramatic drop in mobility and a spike in mortality. Yet, a new study found that despite these challenges, successful reperfusion still offers significant benefits across all ages.

• The study, which included 408 patients, found that those over 80 years had significantly lower rates of independent ambulation (15.1% vs. 56.4% in those 60 and younger) and higher mortality rates (64.3% vs. 15.4%).
• However, successful mechanical reperfusion was associated with better outcomes regardless of age, suggesting that age alone shouldn’t be a barrier to thrombectomy decisions.

These findings suggest that while age impacts prognosis, it shouldn't serve as a strict cut-off for treatment decisions.

Source: JAMA | Read full story