Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital
Background: The impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation on the functional outcomes of stroke patients has not been reported in regional Australia. Objective: This study examined the impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation following acute stroke on functional outcomes (Relative Functional Gain...
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| Language: | English |
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Medical Journals Sweden
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/42506 |
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| author | Fan He Irene Blackberry Michael Njovu David Rutherford George Mnatzaganian |
| author_facet | Fan He Irene Blackberry Michael Njovu David Rutherford George Mnatzaganian |
| author_sort | Fan He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation on the functional outcomes of stroke patients has not been reported in regional Australia.
Objective: This study examined the impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation following acute stroke on functional outcomes (Relative Functional Gain and Functional Independence Measure efficiency) and length of stay in rehabilitation at a regional Australian hospital.
Methods: Rehabilitation initiated > 24 h after a patient was deemed clinically ready was considered delayed. Associations between delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes were investigated with mixed effects linear regression while length of stay was modelled using a negative binomial regression.
Results: Of a total 487 patients, 301 (61.8%) experienced delayed inpatient rehabilitation, with a median delay of 2 days (interquartile range: 1–4 days). Multivariate regressions showed delayed inpatient rehabilitation was negatively associated with Relative Functional Gain (Beta: –0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.11, –0.02, p = 0.009) and Functional Independence Measure efficiency (Beta: –0.18, 95% CI: –0.32, –0.04, p = 0.014), but positively associated with length of stay in rehabilitation wards (incidence rate ratio: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.21, p = 0.021). Bed unavailability was the leading cause of delay.
Conclusion: Delayed inpatient rehabilitation is associated with poorer functional outcomes in stroke patients. Timely access to rehabilitation is crucial for optimising recovery.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b4de7f4801eb4fc8aaad1eba1f086718 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1651-2081 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Medical Journals Sweden |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-b4de7f4801eb4fc8aaad1eba1f0867182025-08-20T03:23:34ZengMedical Journals SwedenJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine1651-20812025-08-015710.2340/jrm.v57.42506Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospitalFan He0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5696-0631Irene Blackberry1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4482-4936Michael Njovu 2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7060-635XDavid Rutherford 3https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6569-4797George Mnatzaganian4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7698-5091John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Care Economy Research Institute, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga, Victoria, AustraliaJohn Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia; Care Economy Research Institute, La Trobe University, Albury-Wodonga, Victoria, AustraliaRehabilitation Medicine Department, Albury Wodonga Health, Wodonga, Victoria, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, Albury Campus, Albury, AustraliaDivision of Medicine, Albury Wodonga Health, Albury, New South Wales, AustraliaRural Department of Community Health, La Trobe Rural Health School, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Victoria, AustraliaBackground: The impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation on the functional outcomes of stroke patients has not been reported in regional Australia. Objective: This study examined the impact of delayed inpatient rehabilitation following acute stroke on functional outcomes (Relative Functional Gain and Functional Independence Measure efficiency) and length of stay in rehabilitation at a regional Australian hospital. Methods: Rehabilitation initiated > 24 h after a patient was deemed clinically ready was considered delayed. Associations between delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes were investigated with mixed effects linear regression while length of stay was modelled using a negative binomial regression. Results: Of a total 487 patients, 301 (61.8%) experienced delayed inpatient rehabilitation, with a median delay of 2 days (interquartile range: 1–4 days). Multivariate regressions showed delayed inpatient rehabilitation was negatively associated with Relative Functional Gain (Beta: –0.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.11, –0.02, p = 0.009) and Functional Independence Measure efficiency (Beta: –0.18, 95% CI: –0.32, –0.04, p = 0.014), but positively associated with length of stay in rehabilitation wards (incidence rate ratio: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.21, p = 0.021). Bed unavailability was the leading cause of delay. Conclusion: Delayed inpatient rehabilitation is associated with poorer functional outcomes in stroke patients. Timely access to rehabilitation is crucial for optimising recovery. https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/42506AustraliaDelayRehabilitationRegionalStrokeoutcomes |
| spellingShingle | Fan He Irene Blackberry Michael Njovu David Rutherford George Mnatzaganian Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine Australia Delay Rehabilitation Regional Stroke outcomes |
| title | Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital |
| title_full | Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital |
| title_fullStr | Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital |
| title_short | Delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke: a retrospective cohort study in an Australian regional hospital |
| title_sort | delayed inpatient rehabilitation and functional outcomes for acute stroke a retrospective cohort study in an australian regional hospital |
| topic | Australia Delay Rehabilitation Regional Stroke outcomes |
| url | https://medicaljournalssweden.se/jrm/article/view/42506 |
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