title: Patients with hemispatial neglect are more prone to limb spasticity, but this does not prolong their hospital stay.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether stroke patients who suffer from hemispatial neglect tend to stay in hospitals longer because they are prone to limb spasticity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of inpatient medical notes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient neurorehabilitation unit of a regional UK teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients (N=106) admitted to the neurorehabilitation unit between 2008 and 2010 who had suffered a stroke, as confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical coincidence of hemispatial neglect and spasticity; length of hospital stay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chi-square analyses indicated that individuals with left neglect were nearly one third more likely to develop spasticity than those without neglect (87% vs 57%), while nearly one half of those with left-sided spasticity showed neglect (44% vs 13%). Individuals with neglect stayed in the hospital 45 days longer than those without neglect, but the presence or absence of spasticity did not affect length of stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide the first statistical evidence, to the best of our knowledge, that neglect and limb spasticity tend to co-occur poststroke, though it is only the former that significantly prolongs stay. Diagnostic value aside, these results are important because they tell us that the treatment of neglect should not be overshadowed by efforts to reduce comorbid spasticity. Despite its poor prognosis, hemispatial neglect continues to receive little targeted therapy in some units.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Kent, Kent, United Kingdom. dtw@kent.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakel
authors.forename: Sarah-Jayne
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Camp
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hammond
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom