Predicting walking function of patients one month poststroke using modified Rivermead mobility index on admission

Being able to predict walking ability of patients with stroke at an early stage is useful in formulating realistic rehabilitation goals and facilitating early discharge planning, which are beneficial not only to the patients but their family members and health care providers. This study aimed to use the modified Rivermead mobility index (MRMI) of the stroke patients on day 3 of their admission to predict their independent walking ability on day 28 postadmission. A total of 232 patients with acute stroke who were admitted to the acute hospital were recruited. Fifty-three percent of them (n = 123) were able to achieve independent walking ability after 28 days of admission whereas 47.0% of them (n = 109) failed to do so. The receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was performed. The optimal cutoff score with the highest sum of sensitivity and specificity was found to be 18.5 (sensitivity, 85.0%; specificity, 75.0%) and the area under the curve was .880. In conclusion, MRMI on day 3 of admission maybe useful in predicting independent walking ability 1 month after stroke.