Predicting trends of community participation after hospital discharge for younger adults after stroke.

• Improvement in community participation was mild for younger adults with stroke (age 20–65 years) after hospital discharge. • Physical function was the strongest predictor of changes in participation. • Education significantly predicted changes in nearly all participation domains. • The impact of environmental factors on participation outcomes must be examined. Community participation is an indicator of recovery for younger adults after stroke who generally have a greater need to return to society than do older adults. However, little is known about the trends of participation and their determinants in this population. To explore the trends of community participation by younger (<65 years) adults with stroke in Taiwan after their hospital discharge and to identify predictors of these trends. This longitudinal, multicenter, prospective cohort study enrolled 570 relatively young adults (aged 20–65 years) with stroke. Participants were assessed at hospital discharge and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure was the Participation Measure–3 Domains, 4 Dimensions (PM-3D4D). Sociodemographic and stroke-related variables were derived by using standardized instruments and questionnaires. Mixed models were used to derive the trends of each participation domain and to identify predictors. PM-3D4D score changes showed a positive trend from discharge to 1-year follow-up (particularly in social and community subscales); however, the improvement was mild and mainly occurred in the first 3 months. Sociodemographic factors, such as income and education levels, and stroke-related variables, such as stroke severity, comorbidity, and physical function, significantly predicted changes in PM-3D4D scores over time. Physical function demonstrated the strongest prediction ability for all participation domains and dimensions. Multiple sociodemographic and stroke-related variables, particularly physical function, predicted improvement in community participation by younger adults after stroke. These findings may help clinicians identify younger adults at risk of unfavorable long-term participation outcomes after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]