Stroke inpatient rehabilitation: a comparison across age groups.

OBJECTIVE: To examine and compare the inpatient stroke rehabilitation experience of older adults (> or = 75 years) with that of young adults (< 65 years) and young-old adults (65-74 years).

DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

SETTING: A large university-affiliated free-standing rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: 260 adults who were admitted to inpatient stroke rehabilitation with a primary diagnosis of recent (< 120 days) stroke (ICD9 430-436).

VARIABLES: Demographic data, diagnosis, time between stroke onset and rehabilitation admission, discharge disposition, and functional status on admission and discharge were obtained from the patient's medical record. Treatment intensity and type, length of stay, and primary payment source data were obtained from the patient's billing record. Three-month mortality data were available from the hospital's routine follow-up survey.

MAIN RESULTS: Compared with the younger adults (< 65 yrs and 65-75 years), the older adults (> or = 75 years) were admitted to rehabilitation earlier and with comparable cognitive but poorer motor function. Rehabilitation treatment intensity (per day) and type were similar across age groups, but the older adults (> or = 75 years) had significantly shorter rehabilitation stays. Three-month survival was comparable across age groups, but the older adults (> or = 75 years) had poorer motor function at discharge and were more often discharged to a nursing home or required a paid caregiver.

CONCLUSIONS: Age-associated factors may influence inpatient stroke rehabilitation referral, treatment, and outcome, particularly for patients over age 75. The cumulative effects of frailty and co-morbid disease upon stroke disability and treatment are possible explanations for the findings. The study provides evidence of a need for further investigation of stroke rehabilitation strategies for adults over 75 years old.