Functional gain in hemorrhagic stroke patients is predicted by functional level and cognitive abilities measured at hospital admission.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Few studies have addressed factors that contribute to functional recovery in people with hemorrhagic stroke. We assessed the value of using pre-training functional level and cognitive abilities measured at admission in order to predict functional gain in a sample of stroke patients.

METHODS

The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was administered to 85 hemorrhagic stroke patients. Three multiple regression models were constructed using total gain in FIM scores, gain in scores in the cognitive domain of FIM, and gain in scores in the motor domain of FIM as outcome variables. Predictor variables were age; scores on the Digit Span Forward Test (DSF), Digit Span Backward Test (DSB), and Chinese Auditory Verbal Learning Test (CAVLT); and the FIM scores measured at admission.

RESULTS

All regression models were significant, Ps < 0.001, and each explained over 73% of the variance in the FIM gains. Age and admission FIM scores were both significant predictors in each of the three models. The DSB span score was a significant predictor of the total FIM and the cognitive FIM gains. The CAVLT recognition score was also a significant predictor of the cognitive FIM gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional improvement in patients with hemorrhagic stroke after in-patient rehabilitation was predicted by age, pre-training functional level, and cognitive abilities measured at admission.