Abstract 169: A Comprehensive Multicenter Evaluation of the Impact of Age on Stroke Thrombectomy Outcomes - Insights From the STAR Collaboration

Abstract

Introduction: Elderly patients, octogenarians and nonagenarians, were excluded or under-represented in the majority of stroke endovascular thrombectomy (ET) trials. There is conflicting data on the outcomes of ET in the elderly. We evaluated age-dependent outcomes of ET for stroke in a large dataset from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR). Methods: Patients undergoing ET for acute ischemic stroke at 12 comprehensive stroke centers in the US and Europe between 01/2013 and 12/2018 were reviewed. Data was collected retrospectively from patient charts, procedure notes, and patient follow-up in neurology clinics. The primary endpoint was the modified Rankin score (mRS) at 90-days which was dichotomized into good outcome (mRS 0-2) or poor outcome (mRS 3-6). Results: Of 3,850 patients reviewed, 2,827 had 90-day follow-up (mean age 69±14), and were divided into 6 age groups: 20-49 (G1, 10%), 50-59 (G2, 10%), 60-69 (G3, 23%), 70-79 (G4, 27%), 80-89 (G5, 21%), 90 or more (G6, 4%). When adjusted for confounding variables, age was an independent predictor of poor outcome (OR=1.4, p<0.001) and mortality (OR=1.5, p<0.0001). When used as categorical variable, adjusted OR (aOR) for good outcomes were significantly lower in groups G2-G6 compared to G1 (p<0.01, figure), and OR for mortality were significantly higher in G2-G6 compared to G1 (p<0.01, figure). An age increment of 10 years was associated with 23% higher odds of symptomatic hemorrhage, and 50% higher odds of mRS 5-6. The impact of procedure time on good outcome (mRS 0-2) was also age-dependent with aOR=0.84 (p<0.05) in G1,2 compared to aOR=0.65 (p<0.05) in G5,6. Conclusions: Age is a major predictor of functional recovery after ET, and this study demonstrates a clear age-dependent increase in rate of mortality and poor outcomes after ET with exponentially worse outcomes above 80 years of age. Complication rates were not age-dependent. Further studies are required to optimize patient selection for ET in the elderly.