Article

Earlier and more intense rehabilitation benefit stroke patients. Yet,
studies have caution intensive therapy during acute brain injury. This study
examined the rehabilitation commencement time and intensity as predictors of
functional outcomes in acute stroke patients admitted to the stroke intensive
care unit (ICU). METHOD: Sociodemographic, medical, rehabilitative and functional
data were collected on 154 acute stroke patients. Regression analyses were used
to identify predictors for the basic activities of daily living (Barthel Index,
BI) and the walking ability at discharge. RESULT: Rehabilitation commencement
time and intensity significantly predicted the BI score at discharge after
adjusting for initial severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS)
and age (p < 0.05). For the walking function at discharge, only the
rehabilitation intensity was a significant predictor after adjusting for initial
severity and age (p < 0.05). Furthermore, with increasing rehabilitation
intensity, patients with severe stroke benefited more than those with moderate
stroke. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation commencement time and intensity, after
adjusting for admission functional status and severity of stroke, remained to be
important predictors of stroke functional outcomes. This study supported the
recommendation to commence rehabilitation early and intensively and provided
evidence that this claim can be extended to acute stroke patients admitted to an
ICU.

Langue : ANGLAIS