Comparison of functional recovery and outcome at discharge from subacute inpatient rehabilitation in patients with right or left stroke with and without contralateral spatial neglect
Sinikka Tarvonen-Schröder, Tuuli Niemi, Mari Koivisto
Department of Rehabilitation and Brain Trauma, Turku University Hospital, PO Box 52, FI-20521 Turku, Finland. E-mail: sinikka.tarvonen-schroder@tyks.fi
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2698
Abstract
Objective: To compare to what extent the presence of contralateral spatial neglect affects functional recovery and outcome among patients with right or left stroke after subacute inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: Observational cohort study comparing functional improvement and outcome. The same admission data-set was used as in part 1 of this study.
Results: Right and left stroke rehabilitants with equally mild neglect and those without neglect (a total of 4 subgroups) all improved proportionally as much, but those with neglect, irrespective of stroke side needed a longer stay in inpatient rehabilitation. At discharge, total disability did not differ significantly between the 2 neglect subgroups, but those with left stroke had significantly lower Functional Independence Measure cognitive sub-score and score in communication. Rehabilitants with neglect, irrespective of stroke side had higher motor, cognitive and total disability and were more often institutionalized than those without neglect.
Conclusion: Mild neglect did not impair recovery after right or left stroke, but rehabilitants with neglect were more disabled and needed a longer rehabilitation inpatient stay than those without neglect.
Lay Abstract
Mild contralateral spatial neglect (inattention) did not impair recovery of patients after right or left stroke, but rehabilitants with neglect were more disabled and needed longer rehabilitation than those without neglect. At discharge from rehabilitation, overall disability did not differ significantly between right and left stroke rehabilitants with neglect, but those with left stroke had more problems in cognitive-communicative ability. Rehabilitants with neglect, irrespective of stroke side, had higher motor, cognitive and overall disability and were more often institutionalized than those without neglect.
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