Educational levels and the functional dependence of ischemic stroke survivors

We evaluated the functional dependence of stroke survivors from the Study of Stroke Mortality and Morbidity, using the Rankin Scale. Out of 355 ischemic stroke survivors (with a mean age of 67.9 years), 40% had some functional dependence at 28 days and 34.4% had some functional dependence at 6 months. Most predictors of physical dependence were identified at 28 days. These predictors were: low levels of education [illiterate vs. > 8 years of education, multivariate odds ratio (OR) = 3.7; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.60-8.54] and anatomical stroke location (total anterior circulation infarct, OR = 16.9; 95%CI: 2.93-97.49). Low levels of education and ischemic brain injury influenced functional dependence in these stroke survivors. Our findings reinforce the necessity of developing strategies for the rehabilitation of stroke patients, more especially in formulating specific strategies for care and treatment of stroke survivors with low socioeconomic status

Confidence interval · Ischemia · Ischemic stroke · Modified Rankin Scale · Multivariate analysis · Odds ratio · Physical therapy · Population · Socioeconomic status · Stroke (engine) · Acute Ischemic Stroke Management · Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Rehabilitation · Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery

• The Brazilian health system

  Open Access•Jairnilson Silva Paim, Jairnilson Paim et al.•The Lancet•2011

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