Article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with
subacute stroke and compare rehabilitation outcomes between those with decreased
left ventricular ejection fraction and those without.
DESIGN: Retrospective chart
review. SUBJECTS: A total of 482 consecutive patients with stroke admitted to a
convalescent rehabilitation hospital. METHODS: Patients were assessed using
transthoracic echocardiography within 7 days of admission.
The patients were
divided into a group with low left ventricular ejection fraction and a group with
preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Functional Independence Measure
(FIM) scores at admission and discharge, FIM gain, FIM efficiency, and discharge
disposition were compared between groups. RESULTS: The low left ventricular
ejection fraction group had significantly lower cognitive and total FIM scores on
admission than the preserved left ventricular ejection fraction group. The
patients in the low left ventricular ejection fraction group tended to be
transferred to acute hospitals more frequently. How-ever, the total score of
discharge FIM, FIM gain, and FIM efficiency did not differ significantly between
the groups when rehabilitation was continued until discharge. CONCLUSION: Stroke
patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction in the subacute phase could
achieve almost the same functional outcomes as those of patients with preserved
left ventricular ejection fraction. Although the general medical condition should
be considered, the finding of low left ventricular ejection fraction did not pose a barrier to successful rehabilitation after stroke.

Langue : ANGLAIS