Relationships between Functional Status, Activities of Daily Living and Depression by Time since Stroke Onset in Elderly Patients with Acute Stroke

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to examine changes in functional status, performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), and depression between initial onset of stroke and 1 and 3months post-stroke; furthermore, we sought to determine the changes in the correlations between these factors over time. The study subjects were 42 patients, aged 65 years or older, undergoing rehabilitation treatments after being diagnosed with stroke. Evaluations of functional status, performance of ADLs, and depression were performed using Korean versions of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Modified Barthel Index, and Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form, respectively. The results showed that changes in functional status, performance of ADLs, and depression between onset of stroke and 1 and 3months post-stroke were statistically significant. Within 1 week from the onset of stroke, there was a significant correlation between the total scores of functional status and performance of ADLs and depression. At 1month post-stroke, there was a significant correlation between the total scores for functional status and performance of ADLs; however, functional status and depression were no longer significantly related, although performance of ADLs was significantly correlated with depression. Finally, at 3monthspost-stroke, significant correlations were found between functional status and performance of ADLs, and between depression and performance of ADLs. Thus, functional status, performance of ADLs, and depression in elderly stroke patients showed significant changes by time since stroke onset. Although functional status and performance of ADLs were consistently correlated over time, depression showed weaker correlations with functional status over time, but showed consistent correlations with performance of ADLs.