title: Age-based prediction of incidence of complications during inpatient stroke rehabilitation: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke complications can occur not only in the acute ward but also during the subsequent rehabilitation period. However, existing studies have not adequately addressed the incidence of various complications among stroke in patients undergoing rehabilitation using a longitudinal method. We aimed to investigate the longitudinal impact of age on complication rates in patients undergoing inpatient stroke rehabilitation at different disease stages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred and sixty-eight first-time stroke patients transferred to the rehabilitation ward between July 2002 and June 2012 were included in the study. Patients were stratified into age groups for comparison: <65 years (young), 65 years to <75 years (younger old), and ≥75 years (older old). In total, 30 different complication types were recorded for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Constipation, shoulder pain, symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI), and fever were common complications during initial stay in the rehabilitation ward, and incidence was >10% in all three age groups. The frequency of incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) was higher in the younger old (17.9%) and older old (20.6%) groups than in the young group (4.1%) during initial stay in the rehabilitation ward (p < 0.001). The incidence of UGIB was higher in the younger old (8.04%) and older old (8.33%) groups than in the young group (0.19%) during subsequent stay in the rehabilitation ward (p = 0.011). The incidence of symptomatic UTI was higher in the younger old (21.0%) and older old (20.0%) groups than in the young group (11.5%) during initial stay in the rehabilitation ward (p = 0.019). The incidence of symptomatic UTI was higher in the older old group (29.17%) than in the younger old (9.21%) and young (3.14%) groups during subsequent stay in the rehabilitation ward (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age does not affect every complication type. UGIB and symptomatic UTI occurred more frequently in stroke patients aged ≥65 years during their stay in the rehabilitation ward.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, No,6, W, Sec,, Jiapu Rd,, Puzih City, Chiayi County 613, Taiwan. fateman53@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chien-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hung-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chia-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chu-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Kai-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Wen-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000639:trends; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers / Q000639:trends*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation