Timing of Initiation of Rehabilitation After Stroke

Abstract

Maulden SA, Gassaway J, Horn SD, Smout RJ, DeJong G. Timing of initiation of rehabilitation after stroke. Objective To study associations between days from stroke symptom onset to rehabilitation admission and rehabilitation outcomes, controlling for a variety of confounding variables. Design Observational cohort study of 200 consecutive poststroke rehabilitation patients in each of 6 inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Setting Six U.S. inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. Participants Patients (N=969) with moderate or severe strokes who had days from stroke symptom onset to rehabilitation admission recorded in their medical records. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Discharge total FIM, discharge motor FIM, discharge activities of daily living (ADL) FIM, and discharge mobility FIM scores, as well as rehabilitation length of stay (LOS). Results Fewer days from stroke symptom onset to rehabilitation admission was associated significantly with better functional outcomes: higher total, motor, mobility, and ADL discharge FIM scores, controlling for confounding variables. For severely impaired patients with stroke in case-mix groups (CMGs) 108–114, the relation was strongest, with F statistics greater than 24.1 for each functional outcome. For patients with moderately severe stroke in CMGs 104–107, fewer days from stroke symptom onset to rehabilitation admission was associated significantly with shorter rehabilitation LOS. Conclusions Fewer days from stroke symptom onset to rehabilitation admission is associated with better functional outcomes at discharge and shorter LOS.