Length of Stay and Functional Outcomes Among Patients with Stroke Discharged from an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND In many countries, the length of stay (LOS) for inpatient rehabilitation following stroke has gradually decreased. It is unclear whether this trend is associated with differences in functional outcomes, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to examine associations between LOS and functional outcomes among patients with stroke discharged from an inpatient rehabilitation facility in Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study included all patients (N=409) aged ≥18 years who were admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation for stroke during 2008-2014. There were no deaths in the cohort during the study period. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to days of rehabilitation: ≤30 days (n=114), 31-60 days (n=199), 61-90 days (n=72), and >90 days (n=24). Multivariate regression analyses were used to evaluate functional outcomes using the functional independence measure (FIM). RESULTS The fully adjusted model showed that higher total and subscale FIM scores were significantly associated with a LOS ≤30 days (total ß: 18.2, standard error [SE]=4.43, P≤0.0001; motor-FIM: ß=13.9, SE=3.70, P=0.0002; cognitive-FIM: ß=4.3, SE=1.29, P=0.001), and 31-60 days (total ß: 11.3, SE=4.07, P=0.005; motor-FIM: ß=8.8, SE=3.40, P=0.009; cognitive-FIM: ß=2.4, SE=1.19, P=0.038) compared with >90 days. CONCLUSIONS A short or intermediate LOS is not necessarily associated with worse outcomes, assuming adequate care is provided.

Impact of a national collaborative project to improve the care of mechanically ventilated patients.

This prospective quasi-experimental study from the NASAM (National Approach to Standardize and Improve Mechanical Ventilation) collaborative assessed the impact of evidence-based practices including subglottic suctioning, daily assessment for spontaneous awakening trial (SAT), spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), head of bed elevation, and avoidance of neuromuscular blockers unless otherwise indicated. The study outcomes included VAE (primary) and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Changes in daily care process measures and outcomes were evaluated using repeated measures mixed modeling. The results were reported as incident rate ratio (IRR) for each additional month with 95% confidence interval (CI). A comprehensive program that included education on evidence-based practices for optimal care of mechanically ventilated patients with real-time benchmarking of daily care process measures to drive improvement in forty-two ICUs from 26 hospitals in Saudi Arabia (>27,000 days of observation). Compliance with subglottic suctioning, SAT and SBT increased monthly during the project by 3.5%, 2.1% and 1.9%, respectively (IRR 1.035, 95%CI 1.007-1.064, p = 0.0148; 1.021, 95% CI 1.010-1.032, p = 0.0003; and 1.019, 95%CI 1.009-1.029, p = 0.0001, respectively). The use of neuromuscular blockers decreased monthly by 2.5% (IRR 0.975, 95%CI 0.953-0.998, p = 0.0341). The compliance with head of bed elevation was high at baseline and did not change over time. Based on data for 83153 ventilator days, VAE rate was 15.2/1000 ventilator day (95%CI 12.6-18.1) at baseline and did not change during the project (IRR 1.019, 95%CI 0.985-1.053, p = 0.2812). Based on data for 8523 patients; the mortality was 30.4% (95%CI 27.4-33.6) at baseline, and decreased monthly during the project by 1.6% (IRR 0.984, 95%CI 0.973-0.996, p = 0.0067). A national quality improvement collaborative was associated with improvements in daily care processes. These changes were associated with a reduction in mortality but not VAEs. Registration The study is registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03790150).

Association of affected lower limb flexor muscle strength with swing phase duration and gait speed in elderly post-stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have shown an association of muscle weakness with gait speed (GS), no study has explored the relationship of muscle strength with swing phase duration and GS after stroke among the elderly in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of affected ankle dorsiflexor and hip flexor muscle strength with swing phase duration and GS in the elderly with different stroke chronicity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included a total of 60 post-stroke patients aged ≥55 years who were admitted in neurorehabilitation units between May 2017 and August 2018. Linear regression was employed to examine the association of muscle strength (measured using a handheld dynamometer) with swing phase duration and GS (both measured using the computerized Zebris-Mat). RESULTS: The chronicity of the stroke was negatively associated (p < 0.05) with swing phase duration. The ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength was significantly associated with GS (ß= 0.656, p = 0.041). In contrast, hip flexor muscle strength was significantly associated with GS (ß= 0.574, p < 0.0001) even after adjusting for stroke chronicity (ß= 0.561, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke chronicity was the predictor that reduced swing phase duration. The ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength was associated with GS. However, the hip flexor muscle strength was associated with GS even after adjusting for stroke chronicity.

Improved functions and reduced length of stay after inpatient rehabilitation programs in older adults with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: to examine the effects of inpatient rehabilitation programs on function and length of stay in older adults with strokeMETHODS: A total of five electronic databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of inpatient rehabilitation programs on functional recovery, as measured by the functional independence measure and length of stay, which was measured in days. We included full-text articles written in English, and no time limit. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale and the Cochrane collaboration tools respectively. The effect sizes and confidence intervals were estimated using fixed-effect modelsRESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials involving 1,910 patients with stroke were included in the meta-analysis showed that patients who participated in the inpatient rehabilitation programs had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher functional independence measure scores (effect size = 0.10; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.01, 0.22) and shorter length of stay (effect size = 0.14; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.03, 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provided evidence that inpatient rehabilitation programs have beneficial effects, improving functionality and reducing length of stay for older adults with stroke.