1. Access to post - stroke physical rehabilitation after acute reperfusion therapy-the neglected link in ischemic stroke management: a retrospective cohort study.
- Author
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Alexandru, RADU Răzvan, Oana, TERECOASĂ Elena, Bogdan, CĂȘARU, Iulian, ENACHE, Cristina, GHIȚĂ, and Cristina, TIU
- Subjects
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ISCHEMIC stroke , *REPERFUSION , *REHABILITATION , *LENGTH of stay in hospitals , *COHORT analysis , *HYPERPERFUSION - Abstract
Background: The burden of stroke is high in Romania and data regarding access to post - stroke rehabilitation are almost non-existent. We aimed to determine the percentage of patients who benefited from post-stroke rehabilitation and to describe the most common rehabilitation settings. Methods: A structured telephone-based questionnaire regarding access to post-stroke rehabilitation therapy and outcomes was administered to all patients with ischemic stroke who benefited from reperfusion therapy in a tertiary center in 2019. Results: 211 stroke patients received reperfusion therapy during the studied period. Out of these, 208 patients were included in the initial analysis and 109 patients were deemed eligible for post-stroke rehabilitation therapy. 57 patients (55.8%) performed post-stroke rehabilitation. In-hospital rehabilitation was reported by 35 patients (32.1%) with a median length of hospital stay of 14 days. 28 patients (25.6%) performed home based physical therapy with a median frequency of 3 sessions per week. 12 patients (11.1%) were admitted to nursing homes. Compared to stroke patients who did not perform in-hospital rehabilitation, those who did were younger (median age 65 years vs. 73 years, p=0.01) and more likely to have moderate-severe post-stroke disability (mRS score 3 - 5 at discharge 80% vs. 59.4%, p=0.03). mRS score at discharge ≤ 2 was a significant predictor for not pursuing post-stroke rehabilitation (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Approximately 50% of the stroke patients treated with reperfusion therapies were eligible for post-stroke rehabilitation and approximately 50% of them had access to rehabilitation therapy while only 30% had access to in-hospital rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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