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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Determining the Functional Status of the Corticospinal Tract Within One Week of Stroke
Published on: February 22, 2020
Functional Status and Disability in Patients After Acute Stroke: A Longitudinal Study
Fidel López-Espuela1, Juan Diego Pedrera-Zamorano2, Pedro Enrique Jiménez-Caballero2
1Fidel López-Espuela is research nurse, Juan Diego Pedrera-Zamorano is head of the nursing department, Pedro Enrique Jiménez-Caballero, José María Ramírez-Moreno, and Juan Carlos Portilla-Cuenca are neurologists, Jesús María Lavado-García is vice dean of the nursing school, and Ignacio Casado-Naranjo is head of the department of neurology, Stroke Unit, Hospital San Pedro de Alcantara, Cáceres, Spain. fidel.lopez.es@gmail.com.
Insights
Functional outcomes after stroke depend on factors like age, sex, and stroke severity. Early assessment using the Barthel Index can predict a stroke survivor's recovery at six months.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Stroke represents a significant global health challenge.
- Assessing functional recovery is crucial for stroke survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate basic activities of daily living in stroke survivors using the Barthel Index.
- To identify predictors of functional outcomes six months post-stroke.
Main Methods:
- An observational longitudinal study was conducted.
- Data collected included sociodemographic, clinical, and stroke-specific information.
- The Barthel Index and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale were utilized.
Main Results:
- Barthel Index scores at six months correlated with baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores and mood.
- Age was negatively associated with functional status at discharge and six months post-stroke.
- Most survivors returned home, while some required institutionalization.
Conclusions:
- Functional status is influenced by age, sex, stroke severity, type, baseline status, mood, and social risk.
- Comorbidities, socioeconomic status, and residence area did not significantly impact outcomes.
- Predictors of functional recovery in stroke survivors were identified.
Background:
Stroke is a major public health problem.
Objective:
To use the Barthel Index to evaluate basic activities of daily living in stroke survivors and detect any predictors of functional outcome at 6 months after stroke.
Methods:
In an observational longitudinal study, data were gathered on consecutive patients admitted to the comprehensive stroke unit at Hospital San Pedro de Alcantara, Cáceres, Spain. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained prospectively at hospital admission and during follow-up 6 months later. Information on type of stroke, score on the Barthel Index, findings from the neurological evaluation, and other relevant data were collected.
Results:
Of 236 patients admitted, 175 participated in the study. Mean age was 69.60 (SD, 12.52) years, 64.6% were men, and mortality was 12.8%. Six months after experiencing a stroke, 84.8% of patients had returned to their own homes, 8.0% were institutionalized, and the others were residing at a family member's home. Scores on the Barthel Index 6 months after stroke correlated with baseline scores on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (r = -0.424; P < .001) and with depressive mood 6 months after stroke (r = -0.318; P < .001). Age was negatively associated with Barthel Index scores at the time of hospital discharge and 6 months after stroke.
Conclusions:
Functional status 6 months after stroke was influenced by age, sex, stroke severity, type of stroke, baseline status, mood, and social risk. Comorbid conditions, socioeconomic level, and area of residence did not affect patients' functional status.
