Prediction of discharge destination after neurological rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Background/aims: Returning home is one of the most important aims of stroke patients when admitted to rehabilitation.

Methods: A single-center prospectively ascertained database study was conducted.

Results: Among 1,332 eligible patients (median age = 76.5 years), 828 (62.2%) returned home. Multiple logistic regression revealed 5 independent predictors: independent sitting balance, higher motor and social-cognitive functional independence measure subscores (all on admission to rehabilitation), living with a partner and younger age. The area under the curve (AUC) of this model was 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.88). When age was excluded from the model, the AUC remained virtually the same (AUC = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.83-0.87).

Conclusion: The discharge destination could be predicted in a majority of patients with easily available parameters. Availability of a partner as well as parameters linked to severity of the neurological and functional deficit were both important. Age alone adds very little to the predictive power of these variables, therefore access to rehabilitation should not be denied on grounds of age.