Table 1 Comparison of included studies

Bhalla 2004 [8]

Europe 10 countries English

1847

Observational, retrospective. To estimate the structure & process of care, and independent factors associated with 3 month mortality and functional outcomes in patients aged >75 yrs compared to younger stroke patients

Mean age 70.2 (SD 12.3) Age range 34-93

<75, ≥75

Age, Gender, Pre-stroke function, Previous home situation, Stroke type, Stroke severity, Stroke unit/other, Comorbidities

CT head scan, Angiography, Stroke unit care, Carotid imaging.

8

Di Carlo 1999 [9]

Europe 7 countries English

4499

Observational, prospective. To evaluate stroke features, hospital resource usage and functional outcome in patients aged ≥80 years compared with the younger age groups.

Mean age 71.8 (SD 12.6) Age range 13-102 Females 50.2% Stroke types: Infarct 60.9% Haemorrhage 10.3%

<80, ≥80

Age, Gender, Pre-stroke function,

CT head scan, Angiography.

7

Fairhead 2006 [20]

UK English

681004

Observational, retrospective. To evaluate the investigation of carotid stenosis in older patients with TIA and stroke.

Nil reported

<80, ≥80

Age, Gender, Stroke type, Degree of stenosis

Angiography, Carotid imaging.

8

Heidrich 2007 [21]

Europe 10 countries English

1721

Observational, retrospective. To investigate variations in use of diagnostic procedures across selected European acute stroke hospitals.

Mean age 69 (SD 12.9) Females 53.6% Stroke types: infarct 57% Haemorrhage 10.3% SU care 14.8%

<65, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85

Age, Stroke severity, Comorbidities, Delay to hospital, Geography

CT head scan.

9

McKevitt 2005 [11]

UK English

1635

Observational, prospective. To determine whether patterns of clinical service provision differ by age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES) or ethnicity

Mean age 71.6 (SD 14.2) Females 51.3%

<65, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85

Age, SES, Gender, Ethnicity, Pre- post-stroke morbidity, Disability, Stroke severity, Stroke unit/other, Cognition

CT head scan Stroke unit care

9

McNaughton 2003 [19]

New Zealand English

181

Observational, prospective. To test whether current measures of stroke processes are related to stroke outcome

Mean age 74.4 (SD 12) Females 53% Stroke types; Infarct 86.1% Haemorrhage 9.9%

<75, >75 (sic)

Age, Ethnicity, Stroke type, Admission function, Discharge function

CT head scan, Swallow screen,

6

Palnum 2008 [10]

Denmark English

29549

Observational, retrospective. To examine the fulfilment of stroke quality-of-care criteria according to age and the possible impact of age-related differences on mortality.

Nil reported

<65, 65-80, >80

Age, Gender, Pre-stroke function, Previous home situation, Stroke severity, Comorbidities

CT head scan, Stroke unit care, Antithrombotic/antiplatelet therapy, Anticoagulants for AF,

10

Rudd 2007 [7]

UK English

8718

Observational, retrospective. To determine whether access to high-quality stroke care is affected by the age or gender of patients, or by weekend admissions

SU care 46%

<65, 65-74, 75-84, ≥85

Age, Gender, Stroke unit/other, Weekend admission

CT head scan, Stroke unit care, Carotid imaging, Asprin commenced early, Antithrombotic therapy by discharge, Risk factor information to patient, Anticoagulants for AF, Antihypertensive therapy, Swallow screen.

9

Saposnik 2009 [22]

Canada English

3631

Observational, prospective. To determine whether access to stroke care, delivery of health services, and clinical outcomes after stroke are affected by age

Mean age 72.0 Females 47.8% Previous NH 5.6% Comorbidities: Low CCI ≤1 65.8%

<59, 60-69, 70-79, >80

Age, Gender, Stroke unit/other, Stroke severity, Comorbidities

Thrombolysis therapy, Stroke unit care, Carotid imaging, Antithrombotic/antiplatelet therapy, Anticoagulants for AF, Antihypertensive therapy, Swallow screen,

10