title: Revisiting length of stay in stroke rehabilitation in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the parameters influencing length of stay (LOS) in stroke rehabilitation in Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation ward in a university hospital, a referral center in the capital of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive inpatient stroke survivors (N=142) after ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events rehabilitated in a university rehabilitation center between January 2005 and October 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary study outcome measurement is LOS on the rehabilitation ward.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LOS was best predicted by Brunnstrom's motor recovery stages (BMRS) lower extremity on admission, BMRS hand on admission, and the presence of infections (LOS in days = 70.6 - 5 × BMRS lower extremity - 3.2 × BMRS hand + 10.3 × presence of infections [infection; present=2, absent=1]; R(2)=.37).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Motor impairments and infections were the parameters that most affected LOS in stroke rehabilitation. Prevention strategies for infections should be pursued more aggressively. The prevention of infections, which is an essential component of a patient's general well-being, also shortened LOS in stroke rehabilitation. High medical costs urge LOS to shorten in the developing countries hereafter. A national rehabilitation policy should be implemented to reach the same functional outcome with shorter LOS in stroke patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ozdenozyemisci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ozden
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozyemisci-Taskiran
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gunendi
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aknar
authors.forename: Gulcin K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Karatas
authors.forename: Vesile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sepici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014421:Turkey