OUTCOME AFTER STROKE REHABILITATION IN HONG-KONG

Objective: To determine the outcome of patients discharged to the comm unity after stroke rehabilitation. Methods: One hundred and eighty-fiv e consecutive patients discharged after stroke rehabilitation were enr olled for follow-up 12 months after discharge from a hospital in Hong Kong. A telephone interview to determine disability and place of resid ence was conducted. Disability was assessed by the Barthel Index and r atings of activities of daily living and mobility on a 4-point scale. Results: One hundred and thirty-one patients or their carers were cont acted (70.1%). This comprised 19 patients (10.3%) who died and 112 pat ients or their carers (60.5%) who were interviewed. Fifty-four patient s (29.2%) were lost to follow-up. Comparison of the patients contacted and those lost to follow-up did not detect membership bias. Median Ba rthel index of the surviving patients who were contacted rose from 90. 0 (interquartile range 78.75-100.0) al discharge to 100.0 (interquarti le range 85.0-100.0) at 12 months. Ratings of activities of daily livi ng and mobility were maintained, with significant improvement in toile ting. Alter rehabilitation 77.3% of the patients were discharged home and there was no significant change in residence at 12 months. Elderly patients (greater than or equal to 70 years old) had higher rates of institutionalization after hospital discharge and more disability alth ough they achieved similar gains in Barthel index and had similar leng ths of hospital stay compared to younger patients. Conclusions: These results suggest that stroke patients were able to maintain their gains achieved during inpatient rehabilitation up to one year after dischar ge from hospital.