Abstract WP60: Better Sleep Is Associated With Improvement In Functional Mobility During Inpatient Rehabilitation After Stroke

Abstract

Introduction/Purpose: Sleep is critical for health and plays a role in motor learning, which is an important component of post stroke rehabilitation. There is limited research on the impact of sleep on functional outcomes during the early stages of rehabilitation after stroke. The purpose of this study was to explore the associations between sleep parameters and functional recovery during inpatient rehabilitation in people with stroke. Methods: 13 participants undergoing inpatient rehabilitation after stroke were recruited to participate. Function was measured at admission and discharge using GG Self Care and Mobility scales. Sleep parameters; sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset (WASO); were determined from an ActiGraph wGT3X-BT activity monitor (AGAM), which participants wore for 5 days continuously upon admission. Associations between sleep parameters and function were determined using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Mean time since stroke was 15.5 (9.0) days, mean National Institutes of Stroke Scale score was 6.2 (4.1), mean age was 65.1 (12.1) years old, and 54% were women. There was a moderate association between sleep efficiency and change in GG mobility score; r=0.67 (p=0.012); and a moderate inverse association between WASO and change in GG mobility scores: r=-0.66 (p=0.013). There was not a significant association between change in GG self-care score and sleep parameters (p>=0.05). Discussion: Quality of sleep is associated with improvement in functional mobility during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke. Participants with better sleep efficiency and less time awake during the night after falling asleep during the first 5 days of their inpatient rehabilitation stay had greater improvement in functional mobility at discharge. Further research is needed to examine the complex relationships between sleep and recovery after stroke and to investigate possible interventions to promote better sleep during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke.