Life expectancy
Stroke can seriously hamper life. Recovering from an acute attack still needs rehabilitation and close observation. About a quarter of yearly reported cases are recurrent strokes, which may further deteriorate the quality of life. The Stroke resulting in permanent brain damage can leave the survivor with lifetime disabilities. Mental health, social life, physical potential, and economic capacity suffer consequences of a cerebrovascular attack. Moreover, a stroke has been shown to cut some years of the average life expectancy of the population. Age of the patient and the severity of stroke are two main determiners of quality of life, as well as survival rates and life expectancy.
Life expectancy in elderly patients
A study [7]comprising of elderly stroke patients, 61 years and above concluded the general cut down on life by the decade
- Patients aged 80 and above had the highest mortality rate, 24% couldn’t recover from an acute attack
- Patients aged 70-79 had a relative value of 13%
- Patients in the age group 61-69: 9%
- A chance for people aged 50-59 years was about 6%
- Elderly patients can have an average life expectancy of 2-9 years after suffering a stroke.
Life expectancy in younger patients:
A Danish study [8] indicates that patients in the fifth decade and below tend to tolerate stroke better. They have a 57% survival rate as compared to the 8% in the elderly patients.