title: Predictors of dependency on nursing care after stroke: results from the Dortmund and Münster stroke registry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term effects of stroke have been inadequately studied. We identified social and clinical factors that were associated with application for insurance payments for long-term care within 3.6 years after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a quality-assurance project called "Stroke Northwest Germany," information was obtained from 2286 stroke patients on their socio-demographic background, type of stroke, comorbidities, and degree of physical impairment during their hospital stay, as measured on the Rankin Scale, the Barthel Index, and the Neurological Symptom Scale. We used logistic regression models to identify possible associations between these factors and application for insurance payments for long-term care within 3.6 years after stroke. We developed an appropriate prognostic model by means of backward selection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  734 (32.1%) of the patients participated in follow-up and reported whether they had applied for insurance payments for long-term care. 22.5% had submitted an application. The rate of application was positively correlated with age, female sex, the number of comorbidities and complications during hospitalization, and the degree of physical impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stroke has major long-term effects. The probability that a stroke patient will apply for insurance payments for long-term care is a function of the patient's age, sex, previous stroke history, and physical impairment as measured on the Rankin Scale and the Barthel Index.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Epidemiologie und Sozialmedizin, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster. cdiederi@uni-muenster.de
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diederichs
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühlenbruch
authors.forename: Hans-Otto
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Lincke
authors.forename: Peter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heuschmann
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007353:Insurance, Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards; D011379:Prognosis; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing*