Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictors of hospital length of stay (LOS) of stroke
patients at the point of admission. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study.
SETTING: An acute hospital rehabilitation center in Singapore. PARTICIPANTS:
Stroke patients (N=491) admitted between March 2005 and December 2006.
INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rehabilitation LOS was calculated as
the total number of rehabilitation days before discharge. We measured the
functional status of patients by using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).
RESULTS: The median LOS was 29 days (mean = 30.8d). Independent clinical and
sociodemographic characteristics found to significantly predict rehabilitation
LOS were FIM motor score at admission, the presence of more than 3 comorbid
conditions at admission, living with nonimmediate relatives before admission, and
the hospital subsidy status of the patient. In particular, the admission FIM
motor score explained 43% of the variation in LOS and decreased the LOS by
approximately 1.1 days for each 1-point increase in score. CONCLUSION: Patients'
socioeconomic status and family structure was found to influence LOS and should
be considered in allocating resources and determining treatment need. The extent
of motor function of patients at admission is an important factor influencing
rehabilitation LOS and is a useful tool for facilitating rehabilitation resource
planning for stroke patients.

Langue : ANGLAIS