Factors Related to Greater Functional Recovery after Suffering a Stroke.

María Vázquez-Guimaraens,Javier Cudeiro,José L Caamaño-Ponte,Teresa Seoane-Pillado

doi:10.3390/brainsci11060802

Abstract

Background: In a stroke, the importance of initial functional status is fundamental for prognosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate functional status, assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale, and possible predictors of functional outcome at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: This is a retrospective study that was carried out at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service in A Coruña (Spain). A total of 365 consecutive patients with primary diagnosis of stroke were enrolled. The functional assessments of all patients were performed through the FIM. A descriptive and a bivariate analysis of the variables included in the study was made and a succession of linear regression models was used to determine which variables were associated with the total FIM at discharge. Results: Prior to having the stroke, 76.7% were totally independent in activities of daily living. The FIM scale score was 52.5 ± 25.5 points at admission and 83.4 ± 26.3 at hospital discharge. The multivariate analysis showed that FIM scores on admission were the most important predictors of FIM outcomes. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the degree of independence prior to admission after suffering a stroke is the factor that will determine the functionality of patients at hospital discharge.

Highlights

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality in the Western world, and the leading cause of permanent disability in adulthood [1]
50.1% of patients lived in the urban area, 76.7% were totally independent for activities of daily living, 62.2% of the patients were males, and the mean age was 66.8 years old
The main outcome of our study indicates that the degree of independence before admission after suffering a stroke is the factor that will determine the functionality of the patients after hospital discharge

Summary

Introduction

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality in the Western world, and the leading cause of permanent disability in adulthood [1]. The objective of the rehabilitation of patients who have suffered a stroke is to achieve the maximum functional and social capacity that allows them to reintegrate into their previous activities. The aim of the current study was to investigate functional status, assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale, and possible predictors of functional outcome at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. A descriptive and a bivariate analysis of the variables included in the study was made and a succession of linear regression models was used to determine which variables were associated with the total FIM at discharge. The FIM scale score was 52.5 ± 25.5 points at admission and 83.4 ± 26.3 at hospital discharge. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the degree of independence prior to admission after suffering a stroke is the factor that will determine the functionality of patients at hospital discharge

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