title: Characteristics of inpatient care and rehabilitation for acute first-ever stroke patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the status of inpatient care for acute first-ever stroke at three general hospitals in Korea to provide basic data and useful information on the development of comprehensive and systematic rehabilitation care for stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study conducted a retrospective complete enumeration survey of all acute first-ever stroke patients admitted to three distinct general hospitals for 2 years by reviewing medical records. Both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were included. Survey items included demographic data, risk factors, stroke type, state of rehabilitation treatment, discharge destination, and functional status at discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2159 patients were reviewed. The mean age was 61.5±14.4 years and the ratio of males to females was 1.23:1. Proportion of ischemic stroke comprised 54.9% and hemorrhagic stroke 45.1%. Early hospital mortality rate was 8.1%. Among these patients, 27.9% received rehabilitation consultation and 22.9% underwent inpatient rehabilitation treatment. The mean period from admission to rehabilitation consultation was 14.5 days. Only 12.9% of patients were transferred to a rehabilitation department and the mean period from onset to transfer was 23.4 days. Improvements in functional status were observed in the patients who had received inpatient rehabilitation treatment after acute stroke management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our analysis revealed that a relatively small portion of patients who suffered from an acute first-ever stroke received rehabilitation consultation and inpatient rehabilitation treatment. Thus, applying standardized clinical practice guidelines for post-acute rehabilitation care is needed to provide more effective and efficient rehabilitation services to patients with stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won Hyuk
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Il
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sam-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyung-Jae
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Welfare, Sejong, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Shil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation, Heart Vascular and Stroke Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yunkim@skku.edu.
authors.forename: Yun-Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005791:Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Korea; Stroke; acute management; inpatients; rehabilitation