Does the Length of Hospital Stay for Rehabilitation Affect Functional Outcomes in Stroke Patients

Does the Length of Hospital Stay for Rehabilitation Affect Functional Outcomes in Stroke Patients: A Retrospective Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the length of hospital stay for rehabilitation affects functional outcomes of stroke patients.

The medical records of patients who were admitted to a rehabilitation unit were analyzed retrospectively. The functional output, the level of spasticity, and the level of motor development at admission and discharge will be determined using the Functional Independence Measure instrument, the Modified Ashworth Scale, and the Brunnstrom test, respectively. Based on the length of hospital stay, patients will be divided into two groups: hospital stays ≤ 3 months (Group 1) and > 3 months (Group 2). Clinical features and functional output will be compared between the groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of stroke
• must be able to receive rehabilitation in an inpatient clinic between 2010 and 2013

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous history of stroke,
• other neurological diseases,
• amputation,
• severe arthritis
• undergoing hemodialysis