Ann Geriatr Med Res.  2024 Sep;28(3):257-265. 10.4235/agmr.24.0025.

Age-Related Differences in the Effectiveness of Rehabilitation to Improve Activities of Daily Living in Patients with Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Tani T
• Kazuya W
• onuma R
• Fushimi K
• Imai S

• KMID: 2559515
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4235/agmr.24.0025

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to reveal differences in the effectiveness of rehabilitation in improving activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with acute stroke across age groups and propose age-appropriate rehabilitation strategies.
Methods
This observational study analyzed nationwide administrative data of inpatients admitted to hospitals with acute stroke between April 1, 2018, and March 31, 2020. The data included the average length of daily rehabilitation sessions, weekly frequency of rehabilitation sessions, and initiation of rehabilitation within 3 days. The primary outcome was the improvement in the Barthel Index (BI) score from admission to discharge. We classified the patients based on age and analyzed improvements in ADL according to rehabilitation characteristics.
Results
An increased daily rehabilitation dose was associated with improved ADL, except in patients aged <65 years (risk ratio [95% confidence interval] in the 65–74, 75–85, and ≥85 years age groups: 1.20 [1.14‒1.27], 1.21 [1.15‒1.27], and 1.43 [1.34‒1.53], respectively; all p<0.001 vs. <65 years: 1.05 [0.98‒1.12]; p=0.18). A rehabilitation frequency of seven sessions per week was associated with improved ADL in the 75–85 years and ≥85 years age groups (1.06 [1.02‒1.10] and 1.08 [1.03‒1.13], respectively; both p<0.001). The effects of initiating rehabilitation within 3 days on ADL post-admission did not differ across age groups.
Conclusion
Increasing the daily dose of rehabilitation was significantly associated with improved ADL in all age groups while increasing the frequency of rehabilitation per week improved ADL in older and very old patients.

Keyword

Rehabilitation; Age; Stroke; Hospital care; Activities of daily living