Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Stroke rehabilitation is a vital component of post-stroke care, and the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals and rehabilitation centers varies across healthcare systems. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed LOS among stroke survivors in Arab countries. METHODS: A comprehensive...

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Main Authors: Abdullah I. Alhusayni, Abdullah H. Alzahrani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre 2025-07-01
Series:Annals of Saudi Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.annsaudimed.net/doi/10.5144/0256-4947.2025.256
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author Abdullah I. Alhusayni
Abdullah H. Alzahrani
author_facet Abdullah I. Alhusayni
Abdullah H. Alzahrani
author_sort Abdullah I. Alhusayni
collection DOAJ
description BACKGROUND: Stroke rehabilitation is a vital component of post-stroke care, and the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals and rehabilitation centers varies across healthcare systems. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed LOS among stroke survivors in Arab countries. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. A comprehensive literature search from the inception until March 2025 identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 18 publications (25 datasets) involving 12 690 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean LOS was 25.67 days [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.22–35.11]. Subgroup analyses showed a longer LOS in Saudi Arabia (37.03 days, 95% CI: 24.11–49.95) compared to other Arab countries (8.87 days, 95% CI: 4.90–12.84), and in rehabilitation centers (46.71 days, 95% CI: 33.18–60.24) compared to acute hospital settings (9.07 days, 95% CI: 5.27–12.86). LOS varies widely across Arab countries and care settings. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need to examine whether differences in LOS are associated with functional recovery and healthcare efficiency. However, substantial heterogeneity across studies and a lack of outcome data limit the interpretability of the results.
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spelling doaj-art-4e73d165fa4041f887a19d1620f7d47e2025-08-20T03:23:30ZengKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research CentreAnnals of Saudi Medicine0256-49470975-44662025-07-0145425626910.5144/0256-4947.2025.256Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysisAbdullah I. Alhusayni0Abdullah H. Alzahrani1From the Department of Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Riyadh Province, Saudi ArabiaFrom the Department of Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Riyadh Province, Saudi ArabiaBACKGROUND: Stroke rehabilitation is a vital component of post-stroke care, and the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals and rehabilitation centers varies across healthcare systems. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed LOS among stroke survivors in Arab countries. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. A comprehensive literature search from the inception until March 2025 identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. RESULTS: A total of 18 publications (25 datasets) involving 12 690 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean LOS was 25.67 days [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.22–35.11]. Subgroup analyses showed a longer LOS in Saudi Arabia (37.03 days, 95% CI: 24.11–49.95) compared to other Arab countries (8.87 days, 95% CI: 4.90–12.84), and in rehabilitation centers (46.71 days, 95% CI: 33.18–60.24) compared to acute hospital settings (9.07 days, 95% CI: 5.27–12.86). LOS varies widely across Arab countries and care settings. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the need to examine whether differences in LOS are associated with functional recovery and healthcare efficiency. However, substantial heterogeneity across studies and a lack of outcome data limit the interpretability of the results.http://www.annsaudimed.net/doi/10.5144/0256-4947.2025.256Stroke rehabilitationLength of stayArab countriesSaudi ArabiaMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Abdullah I. Alhusayni
Abdullah H. Alzahrani
Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Annals of Saudi Medicine
Stroke rehabilitation
Length of stay
Arab countries
Saudi Arabia
Meta-analysis
title Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in arab countries and saudi arabia a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Stroke rehabilitation
Length of stay
Arab countries
Saudi Arabia
Meta-analysis
url http://www.annsaudimed.net/doi/10.5144/0256-4947.2025.256
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