Mini-Mental State Examination, cognitive FIM instrument, and the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment: relation to functional outcome of stroke patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 3 cognitive tests, used on admission, for predicting discharge functional outcome and to assess the efficacy of these tests in predicting functional outcome at discharge in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Geriatric rehabilitation department of a tertiary care hospital in Israel.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients undergoing acute inpatient comprehensive rehabilitation after first clinical stroke.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Cognitive status was assessed with the Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the cognitive subscale of the FIM instrument. The FIM motor subscale was used to assess functional outcome status. Functional gain was determined by the motor FIM gain (efficacy), and the relative (to potential) functional gain was determined by the Montebello Rehabilitation Factor Score. Efficiency was calculated by efficacy divided by the length of hospital stay.


RESULTS
A significant increase in total FIM scores (34.8 points) occurred during rehabilitation mainly because of improvement in motor functioning (31.5 points). Significant improvement in global cognitive status was documented by all 3 tests. Intertest correlation coefficients ranged between.47 and.67. The LOTCA showed somewhat higher correlation coefficients with most of the parameters of functional motor outcomes. Correlation between the MMSE and FIM cognitive subscale and these outcome parameters were nearly identical.


CONCLUSIONS
The LOTCA is slightly better than the MMSE and the FIM cognitive subscale in predicting functional status change after stroke rehabilitation but it is a time-consuming and exhausting instrument to use. The FIM cognitive subscale requires a better overall understanding of the patient's situation at time of administration and therefore is less convenient for the initial assessment. The similar correlation of all 3 tests with functional outcomes and the simplicity of administration of the MMSE suggests its use in the initial assessment of stroke patients.
Zwecker
Manuel
M
Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer 52621, Israel. mzwecker@hotmail.com
Levenkrohn
Shalom
S
Fleisig
Yudit
Y
Zeilig
Gabi
G
Ohry
Avi
A
Adunsky
Abraham
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome