title: A comparison of two balance measures to predict discharge performance from inpatient stroke rehabilitation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the admission Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS) in predicting outcomes at discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation unit (IRU). We hypothesized that discharge outcomes would be better predicted by (1) the PASS compared with the BBS, and (2) by the PASS changing position subscore compared with the PASS maintain posture subscore.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An IRU in an academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five subjects with stroke and mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 71.5 ± 13.8 years, admission functional independence measures (FIM) of 57.2 ± 17.2 points, and IRU length of stay of 17.3 ± 9.7 days. METHODOLOGY/MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Admission and discharge BBS and PASS scores, gait velocity (GV) at discharge, and selected FIM items at discharge were measured. GV was analyzed both as a continuous and categorical variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r) was strong between admission BBS and PASS (r = 0.90, P < .0001). Correlations between admission BBS and PASS and discharge GV were 0.32 (P = .03) and 0.28 (P = .06), respectively. Analysis of variance was significant for both balance measures when grouped by the discharge gait speed category (P < .0001). Pairwise comparisons were significant between GV-A and the other 2 categories but not between GV-B and GV-C. The magnitude of the observed correlation with discharge GV was greater for PASS maintain posture subscore (r = 0.35, P = .02) than for PASS changing position subscore (r = 0.23, P = .13). Both subscores were significantly associated with both toileting and transfers (r = 0.43-0.56, all at least P ≤ .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to our hypotheses, the BBS and PASS performed equally well in our study sample and were best at predicting patients discharged in the slowest GV category. There were few differences between the PASS subscores. Further research should compare how well admission BBS and PASS predict gait velocity, falls, and other functional parameters in the community after IRU discharge.
authors: Division of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th Street, Box 142, Room F1600, New York, NY 10065, USA. mio2005@med.cornell.edu
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: O'Dell
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Au
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Schwabe
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Batistick
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Christos
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation