Impact of Phase Angle on Physical Function in Patients with Acute Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Acute stroke significantly impairs physical function.
• Muscle quality, assessed by phase angle, is a potential indicator of health status.
• Limited evidence exists on phase angle's predictive value in stroke patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between phase angle and physical function at discharge in acute stroke patients.
• To determine if phase angle predicts functional recovery post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• Observational cohort study involving 129 acute stroke patients.
• Phase angle measured using a portable, noninvasive multifrequency bio-impedance device.
• Physical function assessed by Functional Independence Measure motor (FIM-motor) scores at discharge.

Main Results:

• Phase angle was independently associated with FIM-motor scores at discharge (p < 0.001).
• Higher phase angle correlated with better motor function recovery.
• Phase angle did not predict home discharge (p = 0.464).

Conclusions:

• Phase angle is an independent predictor of physical function at discharge in acute stroke patients.
• Measuring phase angle upon stroke onset can inform prognosis and rehabilitation planning.
• Further research may explore phase angle's role in long-term stroke recovery.