Abstract TP323: Does Serum Level Of Sex Hormones Before Rehabilitation Predict Functional Recovery In Elderly Post-stroke Patients?

Abstract

Background: Sex hormone is recognized as a critical factor affecting physical function in the elderly. However, the influence of these hormones on functional recovery after stroke has not been studied in elderly patients. The objective of the study was to examine whether serum level of sex hormones before rehabilitation can predict clinical outcome in elderly post-stroke patients. Subjects and Methods: Seventy-on post-stroke hemiparetic patients who were hospitalized to our rehabilitation ward in their subacute-chronic phase, were subjected (age: 78 ± 6 years, period between onset and admission: 47 ± 31 days). On their admission, serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) and free testosterone (only in male patients) were measured after an overnight fast. As functional measures, NIHSS and functional Independence Measure (FIM) were evaluated at their admission and discharge. We assessed the correlation between changes in serum levels of measured hormones and functional changes during hospitalization. Results: Neither DHEA-S nor free testosterone levels at admission correlated with the severity of stroke at admission. In male patients, significant positive correlation was found between free testosterone level at admission and FIM at discharge (r=0.31, p<0.05), although there was not significant correlation between DHEA-S level at admission and FIM change. Furthermore, the results of multivariate analysis showed that free testosterone level at admission significantly predicted the rate of FIM change during hospitalization in male patients. Conclusions: Serum level of free testosterone at the admission to rehabilitation ward can be a predictor of functional recovery in elderly male patients after stroke.