scholarly journals Inpatient Rehabilitation Care in Alberta: How Much Does Stroke Severity and Timing Matter?

Author(s):  
Eric Tanlaka ◽  
Kathryn King-Shier ◽  
Theresa Green ◽  
Cydnee Seneviratne ◽  
Sean Dukelow

ABSTRACT:Background:We examined the impact of stroke severity and timing to inpatient rehabilitation admission on length of stay (LOS), functional gains, and discharge destination.Methods:Alberta inpatient stroke rehabilitation data between April 2013 and March 2017 were analyzed. We evaluated the impact of stroke severity, as measured by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), on timing to inpatient rehabilitation, functional gains, LOS, and discharge destination. Further, we examined whether timing to inpatient rehabilitation impacted the latter three factors.Results:The 2404 adults were subcategorized as mild (1237), moderate (1031), or severe (136) based on FIM at inpatient rehabilitation admission. Length of time to rehabilitation admission was not significantly (p = 0.232) different between stroke severities. Mean length of time (days) to rehabilitation admission was 19.79 (20.3 SD) for mild, 27.7 (35.7 SD) for moderate, and 37.70 (56.8 SD) for severe stroke. Mean FIM change for mild (M = 16.3, 9.9 SD) differed significantly (p = 5.1 × 10–9) from moderate (M = 30.4, 16.4 SD) and severe (M = 31.0, 25.7 SD) stroke. The mean LOS for mild stroke (M = 41.3, 31.9 SD) was significantly (p = 5.1 × 10–9) different from moderate stroke (M = 86.8, 76.4 SD) and severe stroke (M = 126.1, 104.2 SD). Time to inpatient rehabilitation admission showed a small, significant impact on FIM change (p = 1.4 × 10–9, partial η2 0.022) and LOS (p = 1.1 × 10–19, partial η2 0.042). Shorter times to rehabilitation admission and mild stroke were associated with discharging home without needing homecare.Conclusion:Stroke severity has a significant impact on the conduct of inpatient rehabilitation. Yet, despite suggestions shortening timing to rehabilitation should improve outcomes, the impact on functional gains and rehabilitation LOS was small.

Author(s):  
Eric Tanlaka ◽  
Kathryn King-Shier ◽  
Theresa Green ◽  
Cydnee Seneviratne ◽  
Sean Dukelow

ABSTRACT:Background:Female stroke patients may experience poorer functional outcomes than males following inpatient rehabilitation.Methods:Data from Alberta inpatient stroke rehabilitation units were examined to determine: (1) the impact of sex on time to inpatient rehabilitation, functional gains (using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM)), length of stay (LOS), and discharge destination; (2) if sex was related to age at the time of stroke, stroke severity, and living arrangement at discharge from rehabilitation; and (3) whether patients’ age and preadmission living arrangement had an influence on LOS in rehabilitation or discharge destination.Results:Two thousand two hundred sixty-six adult stroke patients (1283 males and 983 females) were subcategorized as mild (FIM >80; n = 1155), moderate (FIM 40–80; n = 994), or severe (FIM <40; n = 117). Fifty-five percent of males (45.7% females) had mild stroke; 39.5% of males (49.5% females) had moderate stroke; and 5.5% of males (4.8% females) had severe stroke. Females were significantly older than males (p = 2.4 × 10−4). No sex difference existed in time from acute care to rehabilitation admission (p = 0.73) or in mean FIM change (p = 0.294). Mean LOS was longer for females than males (p=0.018). Males were more likely than females to be discharged home (p = 1.8 × 10−13). Further, male patients (p = 6.4 × 10−7) and those < 65 years (p = 1.4 × 10−23) were more likely to be discharged home without homecare.Conclusion:There are significant sex and age differences in LOS in rehabilitation and discharge destination of stroke patients. These differences may suggest that sex and age of the patient need to be considered in care planning.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf J. Martin ◽  
Rajiv R. Ratan ◽  
Michael J. Reding ◽  
Tom S. Olsen

Background. Higher fasting blood glucose (FBG) concentrations in the hyperglycemic range are associated with more severe strokes. Whether this association also extends into patients with FBG in the normoglycemic range is unclear. We studied the association of stroke severity and FBG in normoglycemic patients with ischemic stroke in a median of 7 days after stroke when the initial glycemic stress response has resolved.Method and Material. Included were 361 nondiabetic ischemic stroke patients with admission fasting blood glucose within 70–130 mg/dL admitted into an acute stroke rehabilitation unit in a median of 7 days after stroke. Data including neuroimaging, vital signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and admission functional independence measure (AFIM) were recorded prospectively.Results. FBG correlated with stroke severity in the normoglycemic 70–130 mg/dL range (FBG-AFIM correlation coefficient−0.17;P=0.003). Odds ratio for more severe injury (below average AFIM score) was 2.02 for patients with FBG 110–130 mg/dL compared to FBG 70–90 mg/dL (95% confidence interval 1.10–3.73,P=0.022). Each mg/dL increase in FBG was associated with an average decrease of 0.25 FIM points. In a multiple linear regression model, FBG was associated with more severe stroke (P=0.002).Conclusion. One week after ischemic stroke, FBG within the normoglycemic range was associated with stroke severity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 01-06
Author(s):  
Jochanan Naschitz

Background Among factors which affect the outcome of rehabilitation after hip fracture, the role of pre-fracture frailty has not been defined. Objective To assess the impact of frailty on rehabilitation outcome in elderly persons with proximal hip fracture. Setting Geriatric rehabilitation center. Design Retrospective observational study. Subjects Forty consecutive patients with proximal hip fracture. Methods The following parameters were calculated: FI-MDS frailty index, Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale (FI Rockwood), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) on discharge, absolute functional gain (ΔFIM), length of stay (LOS), and FIM gain per day (ΔFIM/LOS). FIM discharge ≥90 and motor FIM discharge >58 indicated success in rehabilitation. Results There were 31 women and 9 men, mean age 80 years. The mean pre-fracture FI MDS was 10 points (SD 5.8) out of 58 possible, the mean FI Rockwood score was 3 (SD 1.7) out of 7 possible. The mean admission FIM was 76.6 (SD 16), the mean discharge FIM was 92.7 (SD 19.3), mean LOS 22.5 days (SD 9.7), mean ΔFIM/LOS 0.8 (SD 0.6). Pre-fracture frailty was associated with worse outcome of rehabilitation: FI MDS predicted discharge FIM ≥90 with OR 0.86, p 0.012; FI Rockwood predicted discharge FIM ≥90 with OR 0.68, p 0.027; FI MDS predicted discharge motor FIM >58 with OR 0.91, p 0.07; FI Rockwood predicted discharge motor FIM >58 with OR 0.71, p 0.027. Conclusions Though pre-fracture frailty correlated with FIM on discharge, neither frailty tool was specific enough to predict success in rehabilitation and the necessary length of rehabilitation. Translating frailty scores in tools adequate for clinical decision making remains an aim for future studies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukimasa Igawa ◽  
Takahiro Sugimoto ◽  
Hiromasa Horimoto ◽  
Yusuke Moriya ◽  
Masaki Okada ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on inpatient rehabilitation, and to determine the effectiveness of the original infection control measures implemented for the rehabilitation team.MethodsIn this single-center, retrospective, observational study, we calculated multiple rehabilitation indices of patients discharged from our rehabilitation ward between February 28 and May 25, 2020 when Hokkaido was initially affected by COVID-19, and compared them with those calculated during the same period in 2019. Fisher’s exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. We also verified the impact of implementing the original infection control measures for the rehabilitation team on preventing nosocomial infections.ResultsA total of 93 patients (47 of 2020 group, 46 of 2019 group) were included. The median age was 87 and 88 years, respectively, with no differences in age, sex, and main disease between the groups. Training time per day in the ward in 2020 was significantly lower than that in 2019 (p = 0.013). No significant differences were found in the qualitative evaluation indices of Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score at admission, FIM gain, length of ward stay, FIM efficiency, and rate of discharge to home. None of the patients or staff members had confirmed COVID-19 during the study period.ConclusionsEarly COVID-19 pandemic in Hokkaido affected the quantitative index for inpatient rehabilitation but not the qualitative indices. No symptomatic nosocomial COVID-19 infections were observed with our infection control measures.


2019 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Kowalski ◽  
Alan H. Weintraub ◽  
Benjamin A. Rubin ◽  
Donald J. Gerber ◽  
Andrew J. Olsen

OBJECTIVEPosttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a frequent sequela of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and complication of related cranial surgery. The roles of PTH and the timing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement in TBI outcome have not been well described. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of hydrocephalus and timing of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement on outcome during inpatient rehabilitation after TBI.METHODSIn this cohort study, all TBI patients admitted to Craig Hospital between 2009 and 2013 were evaluated for PTH, defined as ventriculomegaly, and hydrocephalus symptoms, delayed or deteriorating recovery, or elevated opening pressure on lumbar puncture. Extent of ventriculomegaly was quantified by the Evans index from CT scans. Outcome measures were emergence from and duration of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) and functional status as assessed by means of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Findings in this group were compared to findings in a group of TBI patients without PTH (controls) who were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation during the same study period and met specific criteria for inclusion.RESULTSA total of 701 patients were admitted with TBI during the study period. Of these patients, 59 (8%) were diagnosed with PTH and were included in this study as the PTH group, and 204 who were admitted for rehabilitation and met the criteria for inclusion as controls constituted the comparison group (no-PTH group). PTH was associated with initial postinjury failure to follow commands, midline shift or cistern compression, subcortical contusion, and craniotomy or craniectomy. In multivariable analyses, independent predictors of longer PTA duration and lower FIM score at rehabilitation discharge were PTH, emergency department Glasgow Coma Scale motor score < 6, and longer time from injury to rehabilitation admission. PTH accounted for a 51-day increase in PTA duration and a 29-point reduction in discharge FIM score. In 40% of PTH patients with preshunt CT brain imaging analyzed, ventriculomegaly (Evans index > 0.3) was observed 3 or more days before VP shunt placement (median 10 days, range 3–102 days). Among PTH patients who received a VP shunt, earlier placement was associated with better outcome by all measures assessed and independently predicted better FIM total score and shorter PTA duration.CONCLUSIONSPosttraumatic hydrocephalus predicts worse outcome during inpatient rehabilitation, with poorer functional outcomes and longer duration of PTA. In shunt-treated PTH patients, earlier CSF shunting predicted improved recovery. These results suggest that clinical vigilance for PTH onset and additional studies on timing of CSF diversion are warranted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 802
Author(s):  
María Vázquez-Guimaraens ◽  
José L. Caamaño-Ponte ◽  
Teresa Seoane-Pillado ◽  
Javier Cudeiro

Background: In a stroke, the importance of initial functional status is fundamental for prognosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate functional status, assessed by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale, and possible predictors of functional outcome at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: This is a retrospective study that was carried out at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service in A Coruña (Spain). A total of 365 consecutive patients with primary diagnosis of stroke were enrolled. The functional assessments of all patients were performed through the FIM. A descriptive and a bivariate analysis of the variables included in the study was made and a succession of linear regression models was used to determine which variables were associated with the total FIM at discharge. Results: Prior to having the stroke, 76.7% were totally independent in activities of daily living. The FIM scale score was 52.5 ± 25.5 points at admission and 83.4 ± 26.3 at hospital discharge. The multivariate analysis showed that FIM scores on admission were the most important predictors of FIM outcomes. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the degree of independence prior to admission after suffering a stroke is the factor that will determine the functionality of patients at hospital discharge.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie A Hicks ◽  
Verena R Cimarolli

Introduction Previous research has shown that home telehealth services can reduce hospitalisations and emergency department visits and improve clinical outcomes among older adults with chronic conditions. However, there is a lack of research on the impact of telehealth (TH) use on patient outcomes in post-acute rehabilitation settings. The current study examined the effects of TH for post-acute rehabilitation patient outcomes (i.e. discharge setting and change in functional independence) when controlling for other factors (e.g. cognitive functioning). Methods For this retrospective study, electronic medical records (EMRs) of 294 patients who were discharged from a post-acute rehabilitation unit at a skilled nursing facility were reviewed. Only patients with an admitting condition of a circulatory disease based on ICD-9 classification were included. Main EMR data extracted included use of TH, cognitive functioning, admission and discharge functional independence, and discharge setting (returning home vs. returning to acute care/re-hospitalisation). Results Results from a regression analysis showed that although TH use was unrelated to post-acute rehabilitation care transition, it was significantly related to change in functional independence. Patients who used TH during their stay had significantly more improvement in functional independence from admission to discharge when compared to those who did not use TH. Discussion Findings indicate that TH use during post-acute rehabilitation has the potential to improve patient physical functioning.


2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Coleman Gross ◽  
Stacey W. Goodrich ◽  
Mary E. Kain ◽  
Elizabeth A. Faulkner

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to predict staffing needs of stroke patients in an acute inpatient rehabilitation program. The Patient Care Index (PCI) was concurrently administered with the FIM on all stroke admissions to a stroke rehabilitation unit over a 3-month period. One hundred fourteen patients 18 years of age or older admitted to the unit with a medical diagnosis of stroke were included in the sample. Total FIM score had a strong inverse relationship to the level of care indicated by the PCI at Days 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 of rehabilitation (rs = —.76 to —.87). Total FIM score and the need for staff supervision for safety were the two factors predictive of the level of nursing care. The FIM has potential to guide nurse-staffing decisions.


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