Cognitively impaired stroke patients do benefit from admission to an acute rehabilitation unit.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether cognitively impaired stroke patients benefit (defined as having an improved level of functional independence and capable of being discharged home) from admission to an acute rehabilitation unit.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data from a historical cohort of patients with acute stroke within the last 4 weeks or less.


METHODS
Acute stroke rehabilitation unit.


METHODS
The study sample was divided into 4 distinct groups based on admission Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores: cognitively intact (MMSE score range, > or =25 points), mild cognitive impairment (MMSE score range, 21-24), moderate cognitive impairment (MMSE score range, 10-20), and severe cognitive impairment (MMSE score range, < or =9 points).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Primary outcome measures were: change in total FIM instrument score, cognitive FIM subscore, length of stay (LOS), FIM efficiency, and discharge disposition (home vs not-to-home).


RESULTS
Based on the MMSE cut scores, there were 233 cognitively intact patients and 435 cognitively impaired (mild, n=139; moderate, n=165; severe, n=131) patients. The cognitively intact and the 3 cognitively impaired groups were similar in age, sex, and ethnicity. The data show that the 3 cognitively impaired groups of patients had delayed onset to acute rehabilitation admission and greater stroke severity and disability. The change in FIM total score and FIM efficiency was similar between the cognitively intact and the 3 cognitively impaired groups (P=.058). There were, however, statistically significant changes in the FIM cognitive subscore favoring the cognitively impaired groups (P<.001). Similarly, patients in the cognitively intact group had a shorter LOS (P<.001) and more home discharges (P<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that despite severe neurologic impairment(s) and disability, cognitively impaired stroke patients make significant functional gains while undergoing rehabilitation and many can be discharged home. Based on these results, stroke patients with cognitive impairments benefit from rehabilitation and should be given the same access to acute rehabilitation services as stroke patients who are cognitively intact.
Rabadi
Meheroz H
MH
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY 10605, USA. mrabadi@burke.org
Rabadi
Freny M
FM
Edelstein
Lisa
L
Peterson
Margaret
M
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission; D011336:Probability; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012016:Reference Values; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome