Thrombolysis in Patients Aged over 80 Years Is Equally Effective and Safe

BACKGROUND: Despite stroke's high prevalence in the elderly, intravenous thrombolysis is licensed in Europe only for patients younger than 80 years old. We aimed to compare the functional outcomes and complication rates in patients older versus younger than 80 years old treated with intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: A retrospective observational study of patients who received intravenous thrombolysis in a stroke unit between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2012, was conducted. Variables were compared between 2 subgroups (≤80 and >80 years). RESULTS: Overall, 512 patients underwent intravenous thrombolysis, of which 13.1% were over 80 years. The mean age was 65.4 years in the younger subgroup and 82.9 years in the older subgroup. Prior independence rates did not differ between the subgroups. Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke was higher in the older subgroup (P = .004 and .026). Only 3% of the elderly with atrial fibrillation were taking oral anticoagulants. Symptoms-to-needle time was lower in the older subgroup (P = .048). Stroke severity was higher in patients over 80 years (P = .026). There was significant improvement in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 7 days after intravenous thrombolysis (P < .001) in both subgroups. The proportion of patients with 3 months' favorable outcome and independence, hemorrhagic transformation, and mortality rates were similar in both subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients' benefits and outcomes from intravenous thrombolysis treatment were identical to the younger subgroup without excess hemorrhagic transformation or mortality. These results favor the use of intravenous thrombolysis in patients over 80 years.

Sexualidade na adolescência

O presente relatório, foi elaborado, no âmbito do III Mestrado em Enfermagem com área de especialização de saúde comunitária. Neste documento, pretendemos descrever, analisar e reflectir, sobre as actividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio, que teve por objectivo desenvolver competências técnicas, científicas e relacionais, através da interacção da teoria e da prática na construção do nosso perfil de enfermeiro especialista em saúde comunitária. O trabalho de campo foi realizado numa escola secundaria do distrito de Portalegre, junto dos alunos do 8.º e 11.º ano de escolaridade. Foram assim realizadas sessões de educação para a saúde no âmbito da educação sexual a 214 alunos, que relativamente ao grau de satisfação geral, 60,5% dos jovens s dis-seram muito satisfeitos e 37,6% satisfeitos, sendo que este critério teve uma avaliação posi-tiva de 98,1%.