title: Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and neurologic outpatient rehabilitation in patients surviving transient ischemic attack or stroke with minor or no residual deficits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program combining secondary prevention and neurorehabilitation to improve vascular risk factors, neurologic functions, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients surviving a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke with minor or no residual deficits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective interventional single-center cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive consenting patients having sustained a TIA or stroke with 1 or more vascular risk factors (N=105) were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-month hospital-based secondary prevention and neurorehabilitation outpatient program with therapeutic and educational sessions twice a week. Patients were evaluated at entry and program end.
  
  
  METHODS
  Impact on vascular risk factors, neurological outcome, and HRQOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 105 patients entered the program and 95 patients completed it. Exercise capacity (P<.000), smoking status (P=.001), systolic (P=.001) and diastolic (P=.008) blood pressure, body mass index (P=.005), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=.03), and triglycerides (P=.001) improved significantly. Furthermore, the 9-Hole-Peg-Test (P<.000), Six-minute Walking Test (P<.000), and One Leg Stand Test (P<.011) values as well as HRQOL improved significantly. The program could be easily integrated into an existing cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation center and was feasible and highly accepted by patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive combined cardiovascular and neurologic outpatient rehabilitation is feasible and effective to improve vascular risk factors, neurologic functions, and HRQOL in patients surviving TIA or stroke with minor or no residual deficits.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive and Restorative Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kamm
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive and Restorative Neurology, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: René M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Müri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinrich P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Mattle
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Prisca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eser
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: hugo.saner@insel.ch.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saner
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003376:Counseling; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Activities of daily living; Cardiovascular diseases; Physical and rehabilitation medicine; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Secondary prevention; Stroke