A 2021 study found that about 66% of stroke victims survived past the three-year mark. 7 Survival factors included: The person's age. Their overall health.
For example, 79% of people survive 2 years, 61% survive 3 years, …, 5% survive 16 years, and only 1% survive 20 years.
How Does a Stroke Impact Life Expectancy? Despite the likelihood of making a full recovery, life expectancy after stroke incidents can decrease. Unfortunately, researchers have observed a wide range of life expectancy changes in stroke patients, but the average reduction in lifespan is nine and a half years.
Danish Study of Stroke Survival Rates
The study found that those who survived a stroke were five times more likely to die between four weeks and one year after the first stroke. They were two times more likely to die after more than a year passed.
Age-adjusted 10-year survival improved from 1980 to 2000 (men 29.5% to 46.5%, p < 0.0001; women 32.6% to 50.5%, p < 0.0001). Ten-year ischemic stroke survival (n = 1667) improved from 1990 to 2000 (men 35.3% to 50%, p = 0.0001; women 38% to 55.3%, p < 0.0001).
Even after surviving a stroke, you're not out of the woods, since having one makes it a lot more likely that you'll have another. In fact, of the 795,000 Americans who will have a first stroke this year, 23 percent will suffer a second stroke.
In 2018, the death rate from stroke was 242.7 per 100,000 persons aged ≥65 years. Persons aged ≥85 years had the highest death rate from stroke (984.3), followed by those aged 75–84 years (256.0) and those aged 65–74 years (76.8). For both men and women, the death rates increased with age.
The stroke recovery process is long and can come with many challenges, including the feeling that symptoms are getting worse instead of better. However, know that regression after stroke is common and often temporary. This can be impacted by factors such as new medications, schedule changes, or excess fatigue.
There is no safe number of strokes a person can have, and no set limit on how many someone can have before a stroke is fatal. The more strokes an individual has, the higher the likelihood of lasting damage or death. One in four people who have had a stroke will have another.
Medical experts often use the NIH Stroke Scale to determine the severity of a stroke. Patients that score between 21 and 42 (the highest possible score) are considered to have suffered a massive stroke.
On average, between 10 and 15 years after stroke, 25% of survivors were moderately-severely disabled, 21% were inactive, 22% had cognitive impairments, 32% were anxious and 38% depressed. Functional, cognitive and psychological outcomes between 10 and 15 years after stroke.
In one study, 39% of second strokes were fatal (2). Within 4-5 years after a stroke, 18% of patients will have another one (3,4), and 17% will suffer from a heart attack or vascular death (4).
In terms of stroke side effects, by the 5 year mark, many survivors may be able to walk again, with or without assistance. But issues like foot drop and poor hand function may linger for massive stroke survivors. Still, even two stroke survivors who both suffered massive strokes will have very different recoveries.
However, most providers assess progress using Brunnstrom's seven stages of stroke recovery, which include the following: flaccidity, spasticity appears, spasticity increases, spasticity decreases, complex movement combinations, spasticity disappears, and normal function returns.
Fortunately, if you participate in regular rehabilitation, the outlook is positive by the 6 month mark. Studies show that about 65-85% of stroke patients will learn to walk independently after 6 months of rehabilitation. For those recovering from a massive stroke with severe effects, recovery may take more time.
The brain damage that occurs with a stroke or a ministroke (transient ischemic attack) may increase your risk of developing dementia.
Recovery time after a stroke is different for everyone—it can take weeks, months, or even years. Some people recover fully, but others have long-term or lifelong disabilities.
Some people will experience symptoms such as headache, numbness or tingling several days before they have a serious stroke. One study found that 43% of stroke patients experienced mini-stroke symptoms up to a week before they had a major stroke.
Heart attacks are more likely after a stroke, as they are linked to many of the same risk factors and health problems. Seizures after a stroke. These are also linked with a greater chance of death and more serious disability.
The majority of strokes occur in people who are 65 or older. As many as 10% of people in the U.S. who experience a stroke are younger than 45. How do the symptoms of stroke in young people differ from those in the older age group?