Nutritional improvement is associated with better functional outcome in stroke rehabilitation: A cross-sectional study using controlling nutritional status.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between changes in nutritional status and the functional outcome of adult post-stroke patients hospitalized for rehabilitation.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS

Post-stroke patients (n = 134) who were admitted to a convalescent rehabilitation ward.

METHODS

On admission and discharge, the nutritional status of each subject was assessed using the "controlling nutritional status" system. Activities of daily living were assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Patients were divided into 2 categories: (i) those whose nutritional status improved or remained normal during the rehabilitation; and (ii) all others.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 65.5 years. Although there were no significant differences between the 2 categories in most characteristics, the FIM efficiency was significantly higher (0.230 in the improved category and 0.133 in the other; p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the improved category as a variable was independently associated with greater FIM efficiency (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Improvement or maintenance of nutritional status was associated with better functional recovery in post-stroke rehabilitation in adult patients of all ages.