Late multidisciplinary rehabilitation in young people after stroke.

Purpose: Stroke has a major impact on physical and cognitive ability, and quality of life. This study aims to examine the effect of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on outcome in an Irish young stroke population.

Methods: Fifty consecutive patients younger than 65 were prospectively recruited to this observational study. Physical and cognitive ability, and quality of life were measured on admission and discharge.

Results: All patients were transferred to the rehabilitation unit from the acute hospital where they had received their initial management. Median length of time from stroke onset to transfer was 112 days. After a median of 70 days, 43 patients were discharged home. Patients made significant gains in physical (Barthel index 12 to 18) and cognitive ability (mini-mental state examination 22 to 25). Quality of life improved in all eight domains of the 36-items Short Form with four domains returning to level seen in the general population.

Conclusions: This study documents the improvements in physical and cognitive abilities, and quality of life in a sample of patients in rehabilitation. A comprehensive rehabilitation programme that includes acute and late multidisciplinary phases can improve the outcome of patients following stroke.