Mobilization within 24 hours of new-onset stroke enhances the rate of home discharge at 6-months follow-up: a prospective cohort study.

Background/objective: Previous research indicates a better improvement of functional independence measure (FIM) at discharge in acute-stroke patients who received physiatrist and registered therapist operating rehabilitation (PROr) within 24 hrs compared with those who received after 24 hrs was reported. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine whether PROr provided within 24 hrs for new-onset stroke patients affects home-discharge rate at 6 months later.

Methods: Acute new-onset stroke patients admitted to our hospital and received PROr ( = 227) and were conducted into 3 categories based on the time until starting PROr; within 24 hrs (very early mobilization; VEM;  = 47), 24-48 hrs (early mobilization; EM;  = 77) and >48 hrs (later mobilization; LM;  = 103). Home-discharge rates as well as changes in FIM, and rates of recurrence and mortality during the 6-month follow-up were assessed.

Results: A total of 139 patients [VEM ( = 32), EM ( = 43), LM ( = 64)] could be followed throughout the 6-month period. The home-discharge rate was ∼80% and significantly higher by ∼20% in VEM than EM. The gains in the motor subscale of FIM at 6 months were significantly higher in VEM than LM, while the mortality and recurrent rates were not significantly different among the categories.

Conclusions: Starting PROr within 24 hrs of new-onset stroke may help to increase home-discharge rates at 6-month follow-up, simultaneously with a higher FIM. Very early mobilization in our hospital did not increase the risks of recurrence or death.