title: The correlation of independency in activities of daily living performance with cognitive status and the intensity of neurological impairment in right-handed stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate whether test performance in neurological and cognitive areas is able to predict daily task performance in stroke patients and if the two selected measures of stroke severity and cognitive function could be used as valid tools to predict functional outcomes after stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 27 stroke patients (hemorrhagic and infarct) through Barthel Index (BI), Lowenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) in the first 6 months after stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The correlation of intensity of neurological impairment (NIHSS score) and ADL performance (BI score) was significant (P < 0/05), but we found no relation between general cognitive function (the total score of LOTCA) and individual independence (total score of BI). Although ADL performance areas associated with some cognitive components.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dependency after stroke is more affected by physical symptoms of stroke than by cognitive disorders. Moreover, the intensity of neurological impairment could be a better explanation for a patient's inability to perform basic ADL independently. Low direct relations in total scores of NIHS scale and BI was found, but LOTCA is not appropriate for prediction of independency in basic ADL performance after stroke. Nevertheless, further studies and confirmation are needed.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Department, Amal Rehabilitation Centre, Tehran, Iran. shadi_phd@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbari
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashayeri
authors.forename: Malahat Akbar
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fahimi
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lyden
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis