Article

OBJECTIVES: To describe long-term activity limitation, participation restriction,
and patients' overall perception of recovery among stroke patients 4 years
poststroke, and to evaluate the association between the factors. In addition, the
study investigated those factors present at the time of stroke onset, which could
predict the level of activity limitation and participation restriction at 4 years
poststroke. DESIGN: Prospective, 4-year follow-up study. SETTING: Subjects'
homes, via telephone. PARTICIPANTS: All first ever stroke patients (N=139)
admitted to the Sheba Medical Center in Israel between February and March 2004
were followed and reassessed for activity and participation restrictions.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Barthel index (BI)
(activity limitation, BI<95) and Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) (participation
restriction, FAI<30). Perception of recovery was assessed by 2 simple questions.
RESULTS: At 4 years poststroke, 9 patients (6.4%) were lost to follow-up, 71
(54.1%) patients had survived; 42.3% with activity limitation, 28.2% were
classified as restricted in participation, and 78.1% felt they had not completely
recovered. Age at stroke onset and disability in the acute phase were the most
significant predictors of activity limitation at 4 years poststroke. None of the
demographic characteristics or baseline clinical features predicted participation
restriction. A positive association (rho=0.6) was noted between activity
limitation and participation restriction 4 years poststroke. CONCLUSIONS: This is
the first study to describe long-term outcomes poststroke in Israel. Activity
limitation and participation restriction remain highly prevalent up to 4 years
after stroke. The potential influence of additional factors (psychosocial,
cognitive, and environmental) as predictors of participation restriction should
be topics for future investigation.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS