The Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Outcome: A Prospective Study From an East-Asian Cohort

The Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Outcome: A Prospective Study From an East-Asian Cohort

Research has shown that rehabilitation at almost any Body Mass Index (BMI) level leads to positive functional outcomes. Some data demonstrating that gains are often more rapid at BMI above "normal". The aim of this study is to investigate the association between BMI and the functional progress of all patients admitted to Tan Tock Seng Tertiary Rehabilitation Center.

Inclusion Criteria:

• clinical strokes (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) diagnosed by acute neurologists or neurosurgeons and confirmed on computerized tomography (CT) or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain imaging
• aged 18 years and above
• admitted directly from acute stroke units
• able to provide informed consent by self or by next of kin in incompetence patient
• must receive physical therapy (either physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy) at least 5 times a week with each session at least 30 minutes

Exclusion Criteria:

• rehabilitation was not the primary reason for the inpatient admission
• failure to complete the rehabilitation program due to either an acute transfer off rehabilitation or a discharge against medical advice
• incomplete or missing Body Mass Index (BMI) or Functional Independence Measure (FIM) data
• patients who were not of Asian ethnicity