title: Inpatient stroke rehabilitation lengths of stay in Canada derived from the National Rehabilitation Reporting System, 2008 and 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine rehabilitation length of stay (LOS) for patients with stroke in Canada, and to evaluate which factors contribute to variations in LOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of Canadians rehabilitating from stroke using medical, functional, and sociodemographic variables extracted from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Rehabilitation Reporting System.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canadian rehabilitation hospitals providing stroke rehabilitation services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with stroke (N=11,983) admitted to rehabilitation hospitals from January 2008 through December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rehabilitation LOSs were calculated nationally and regionally. Regression models incorporating sociodemographic and clinical measures were constructed to test their effect on LOS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median stroke rehabilitation LOSs was 35 days (quartiles: 20d, 54d). LOSs varied regionally within Canada. A multivariable regression model including age, FIM motor function scores at admission, and geographic region explained 20% of the variation in LOSs. Modeling these data using a Function-Related Groups case-mix model explained 16% of the variation in LOSs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIM motor function scores at admission along with age and geographic region best predicted rehabilitation LOS. These variables explained 20% of the variation in LOSs. Despite regional differences in LOSs, patient characteristics were similar between regions. Other nonpatient factors not captured in these data may contribute to a greater extent in determining stroke rehabilitation LOS.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vancouver, BC, Canada; GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Chris.Grant@vch.ca.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Arthritis Research Center of Canada, Richmond, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vancouver, BC, Canada; GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Hubert A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Anton
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: FIM-FRG; FIM–Function-Related Groups; ICD-10 CA; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Canada; LOS; Length of stay; NRS; National Rehabilitation Reporting System; Rehabilitation; Stroke; length of stay