Abstract
Objective: This retrospective study examined the relationship between patient characteristics and intervention outcomes in stroke rehabilitation in a large, diverse inpatient database.
Method: A query of the electronic medical record for 2008-2012 identified 939 patients treated for stroke. An analysis was conducted for dichotomized total, motor, and cognitive Functional Independence Measure scores using univariable and multivariable analyses and patients' characteristics.
Results: There was a significant population of non-white patients in the cohort (53%). Race was not found to be a factor that influenced outcomes. Patients who responded to treatment were more likely to be younger than 80, with a length of stay greater than 11 days, and currently employed. Length of stay had the strongest association with a positive treatment response (P <= 0.001). Patients who were older than 80 years and not working/retired at the time of stroke had less response to treatment.
Conclusion: The results of the present study show that patients with a minimum of 3 key characteristics, in a diverse stroke population, are most likely to benefit maximally from intensive inpatient stroke rehabilitation irrespective of their race, sex, or number of comorbidities.