COMPARING INPATIENT REHABILITATION AND HOME-BASED REHABILITATION PRACTICES FOLLOWING ACUTE STROKE: A PROSPECTIVE CONTROLLED STUDY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether home-based rehabilitation (HBR) is as effective as inpatient rehabilitation in patients with acute stroke as well as to identify patients at increased risk of mortality/morbidity during rehabilitation.MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study included 64 patients with acute stroke who were referred from the neurology service and intensive care units to an inpatient rehabilitation unit (n=28) or HBR programs (n=36). Brunnstrom motor stages, Functional Independence Measure and Stroke Impact Scale scores of all patients were recorded before treatment and 12 weeks after therapy. Evaluation parameters were compared between 2 groups. The presence of any morbidity/mortality that developed during rehabilitation period were recorded. Afterward, all the patients were divided into 3 groups as inpatient, HBR and patients with mortality/morbidity and evaluation parameters before therapy were compared among the groups.RESULTS: At third month, while there was no significant change in all quality of life subscales following HBR, the improvement in all quality of life subscales following inpatient rehabilitation, except for the memory and emotion subscales were significant. At the end of 12th week; 5 (13.90%) of the 36 patients were died, and another 5 (13.90%) had developed a new cerebrovascular disease in HBR group. The memory, communication and emotion subscales scores of 10 patients with mortality/morbidity were significantly lower than the patients without mortality/morbidity in other 2 groups.CONCLUSIONS: To better manage difficult clinical encounters, the physician needs to well identify acute stroke patients who will be referred to inpatient rehabilitation or home exercise group. When choosing a rehabilitation program, physicians may also consider the mortality/morbidity related to memory, communication and emotional scores.