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Original ArticleOpen Access
Epidemiology of Stroke in the Elderly in Thailand
Viriyavejakul A 
,
Senanarong V ,
Prayoonwiwat N ,
Praditsuwan R ,
Chaisevikul R ,
Poungvarin N
,
Senanarong V ,
Prayoonwiwat N ,
Praditsuwan R ,
Chaisevikul R ,
Poungvarin N Outcomes and predicting factors of mortality were studied in a consecutive series of 190
female medical patients admitted with acute illness to the Department of Medicine. Most of the
patients were admitted from the Emergency Department. Twenty seven patients (14.2%) died.
Seventy per cent of the patients who died, died during the first week of hospitalisation. Nearly I 0
per cent of the patients who did not die, stayed in the hospital for longer than 4 weeks. At the time
of home discharge, 20 patients (12.3%) had a Barthel ADL Index score less than 12, 19 patients
(11.7%) had urinary incontinence, 16 patients (9.8%) had faecal incontinence, and only 103
patients (63.2%) could walk independently. The elderly patients had a significantly higher
disability level at the time of home discharge than the younger patients. Independent predicting
factors of mortality among this population study were "history of acute confusion", "systolic blood
pressure < 100", "hematocrit < 30 per cent", "platelet < 100,000", and "a low Chula Mental Test
score". Implementation of auditing and quality assurance in every acute-care hospitals is recommended.
From this study, it can be concluded that stroke prevention is the best policy for stroke
management. Stroke prevention measures should thus be aimed at the high risk elderly group.
This is best achieved by identifying risk factors among them and then controlling these risk
factors properly.
female medical patients admitted with acute illness to the Department of Medicine. Most of the
patients were admitted from the Emergency Department. Twenty seven patients (14.2%) died.
Seventy per cent of the patients who died, died during the first week of hospitalisation. Nearly I 0
per cent of the patients who did not die, stayed in the hospital for longer than 4 weeks. At the time
of home discharge, 20 patients (12.3%) had a Barthel ADL Index score less than 12, 19 patients
(11.7%) had urinary incontinence, 16 patients (9.8%) had faecal incontinence, and only 103
patients (63.2%) could walk independently. The elderly patients had a significantly higher
disability level at the time of home discharge than the younger patients. Independent predicting
factors of mortality among this population study were "history of acute confusion", "systolic blood
pressure < 100", "hematocrit < 30 per cent", "platelet < 100,000", and "a low Chula Mental Test
score". Implementation of auditing and quality assurance in every acute-care hospitals is recommended.
From this study, it can be concluded that stroke prevention is the best policy for stroke
management. Stroke prevention measures should thus be aimed at the high risk elderly group.
This is best achieved by identifying risk factors among them and then controlling these risk
factors properly.
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