Baby Boomers Impact Stroke Hospitalization Rates

SAN FRANCISCO—A study conducted by the CDC has found that persons ages 45 to 54 in 2000, particularly women, had more stroke hospitalizations, deaths, and use of long-term care facilities than did persons who belonged to the same age-group in 1990 and in 1980.

Researchers compared hospitalization rates for stroke in persons ages 45 to 54 in 2000 (1946-1955 birth cohort, a.k.a. baby boomers) with those from persons who were in that age-group in 1980 (1926-1935 birth cohort) and in 1990 (1936-1945 birth cohort). Their findings were presented at the 2007 International Stroke Conference.

The researchers used National Hospital Discharge Survey records to identify those with stroke listed as the first diagnosis for hospitalization. They evaluated information on length of hospital stay, insurance status, and discharge outcomes.

Among all hospitalizations for stroke in the United States, those in adults ages 45 to 54 accounted for 8.5% of 757,000 in 2000, 6.5% of 647,000 in 1990, and 6% of 603,000 in 1980; the number of stroke hospitalizations in this age-group was higher in 2000 (64,000) than in 1990 (42,000) or in 1980 (37,000).

Among stroke hospitalizations for those ages 45 to 54, the proportion of female patients increased from 38.6% in 1980 to 41.8% in 1990, and 49.5% in 2000. The proportion of patients with private insurance decreased, from 73.5% in 1980 to 57.7% in 1990, and to 49.7% in 2000. The proportion of patients whose primary source of payment was the government increased, from 16.7% in 1980 to 20.4% in 1990, and to 33.4% in 2000. Mean length of hospital stay for stroke declined for this age-group, from 12.8 days in 1980 to 6.1 days in 2000.

For stroke patients in this age-group, the proportion of hospital stays that resulted in death or transfer to long-term care facilities was higher in 2000 than in 1980 (9.2% died in the hospital in 2000, compared with 7.8% in 1980; 6.2% were transferred to long-term care facilities in 2000, compared with no patients in 1980).

In 2000, hospitalization rates for stroke were similar for men and women ages 45 to 54, and both men and women had higher hospitalization rates in 2000 compared with 1990 or 1980. However, in 2000, age-specific hospitalization rates for stroke declined in men, while rates for women have increased during the two decades.

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