Non-motor Factors Associated with the Attainment of Community Ambulation after Stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Detect the main predictive non-motor factors related to independent community ambulation after stroke. Furthermore, we propose a scale to estimate the probability of a stroke patient achieving independent community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation.


METHODS
Prospective cohort. Subjects treated in a rehabilitation center in a large metropolitan area. Independent community ambulation was evaluated after rehabilitation according to the Hoffer classification. Functional ambulation was assessed at four levels: nonambulatory, nonfunctional ambulation, household ambulation, and community ambulation.


METHODS
Patients (n=201) with a moderate disability after stroke.


RESULTS
The average time of hospitalization was 19.3 days. However, only 32.8% of the patients started the rehabilitation program during the first 6 months after stroke. We found that 121 patients achieved community ambulation (60.2%), 40 achieved household ambulation (19.9%), 12 achieved therapeutic ambulation (5.9%), and 28 were non-ambulatory after 6 months of treatment. Based on our final model, a scoring scale was created in order to evaluate the probability of stroke patients achieving independent community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation. Higher scores were associated with better chances of community ambulation within 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The scale that evaluated these factors proved to have acceptable sensitivity and specificity to establish the prognosis of community ambulation after 6 months of rehabilitation.
Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil carolufscar24@gmail.com.
Milene Silva
MS
Ferreira
Physiatry Division, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Therezinha Rosane
TR
Chamlian
Cardiology Division, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Santo Amaro University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Carolina Nunes
CN
França
Neurology Division, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Ayrton Roberto
AR
Massaro
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking
Community ambulation; Non-motor factors; Rehabilitation; Stroke