Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the parameters influencing length of stay (LOS) in
stroke rehabilitation in Turkey. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING:
Rehabilitation ward in a university hospital, a referral center in the capital of
Turkey. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive inpatient stroke survivors (N=142) after
ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events rehabilitated in a university
rehabilitation center between January 2005 and October 2009. INTERVENTIONS: Not
applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary study outcome measurement is LOS on
the rehabilitation ward. RESULTS: LOS was best predicted by Brunnstrom's motor
recovery stages (BMRS) lower extremity on admission, BMRS hand on admission, and
the presence of infections (LOS in days = 70.6 - 5 x BMRS lower extremity - 3.2 x
BMRS hand + 10.3 x presence of infections [infection; present=2, absent=1];
R(2)=.37). CONCLUSIONS: Motor impairments and infections were the parameters that
most affected LOS in stroke rehabilitation. Prevention strategies for infections
should be pursued more aggressively. The prevention of infections, which is an
essential component of a patient's general well-being, also shortened LOS in
stroke rehabilitation. High medical costs urge LOS to shorten in the developing
countries hereafter. A national rehabilitation policy should be implemented to
reach the same functional outcome with shorter LOS in stroke patients.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS