Stroke Rehabilitation Fact Sheet in Korea

With rapid aging, the number of stroke survivors with disabilities in Korea is increasing even if mortality is declining. Despite coordinated efforts for quality improvement of stroke rehabilitation in Korea, the statistics of stroke rehabilitation were not well reported. This review aimed to provide contemporary and comprehensive statistics and recent changes in stroke rehabilitation in Korea. The Clinical Practice Guideline for Stroke Rehabilitation in Korea was developed in 2009 and updated in 2012 and 2016. Additionally, the representative databases for stroke rehabilitation include the Korean Brain Rehabilitation Database and the Korean Stroke Cohort for functioning and rehabilitation. These nationwide databases provided current information on stroke rehabilitation. Among Korean stroke survivors, one in three had motor impairment, one in four had cognitive impairment, one in three had speech impairment, one in four was dependent in ambulation, one in six had swallowing difficulty, and one in four was dependent in activities in daily living at 5 years after stroke. Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation following transfer to the department of rehabilitation medicine significantly decreased stroke-related mortality and long-term disability. This review provides an improved understanding of stroke rehabilitation and guidance to implement timely, coordinated, evidence-based stroke rehabilitation services to relieve the socioeconomic burden of stroke.