Neurorrehabilitación y su impacto en el estado funcional en pacientes que han sufrido un ictus

Abstract

Stroke represents the main cause of functional dependence and in the Portuguese adult population.

Objective

To analyse the impact of rehabilitation on functional state and basic activities of daily life (ABVD), 8 weeks following a stroke, in a population of elderly people in north-western Portugal.

Methodology

Observational, longitudinal and retrospective study. The patients were grouped into 3 groups according to the rehabilitation treatment received: non-rehabilitation (NR), light rehabilitation (RL) and intense rehabilitation (RI).

Sociodemographic data, clinical variables (on stroke), hospital stay, rehabilitative treatment, and functional status (Barthel index) were collected.

Results

350 patients, with a mean age of 75.83 (± 8.02) years. The hospital stay was longer in the group of RL (19.7 [± 8.69]), RI (17.67 [± 10.05]) and of those who did not undergo rehabilitation (10.97 [± 6.96]) (P = .001).

A significant increase (P < .001) was observed in the Barthel index scores from admission to 8 weeks after the stroke.

Age (P = .003) and hospital stay (P = .013) were shown as risk factors for functional dependence. Similarly, taking as a reference the patients who did not undergo rehabilitation, the subjects who underwent light rehabilitation (OR: 6.37; 95% CI: 1.74-23.25; P = .005) and intensive rehabilitation (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.08-4.82; P = .030), had a significantly higher risk of presenting functional dependence

Conclusion

Undergoing intensive rehabilitation improves functional state and ABVD compared to light rehabilitation, 8 weeks following a stroke in elderly patients.