Effect of body mass index on inpatient rehabilitation outcome after stroke in a Southeast Asian cohort: a prospective study.

Introduction: We examined the association between admission body mass index (BMI) and discharge rehabilitation functional outcome using the functional independence measure (FIM) in a Southeast Asian cohort of stroke patients during inpatient rehabilitation.

Methods: A prospective, observational cohort study of stroke patients admitted to a single inpatient rehabilitation unit was conducted. Using the World Health Organization Asian standards, BMI was classified as underweight (<18.