Community integration and its predictors in people with stroke: a multicenter longitudinal study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Stroke significantly impacts patients' ability to reintegrate into the community.
• Understanding factors influencing community integration is crucial for effective rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate community integration levels in stroke patients at one-year follow-up.
• To identify predictors of community integration post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, longitudinal observational study involving 65 stroke inpatients in China.
• Initial assessments included the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ), Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS).
• Follow-up assessments at one year via telephone included the CIQ and disease-related conditions.

Main Results:

• CIQ scores significantly increased from initial assessment to one-year follow-up (p < 0.05).
• CIQ scores at follow-up correlated with initial age, education, MBI, BBS, and MMSE scores (p < 0.05).
• Age, education, MBI, BBS, MMSE, and FMA scores predicted CIQ scores at follow-up (R² range: 0.056-0.254, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Stroke survivors showed low community integration, but it improved one year post-discharge.
• Balance function and activities of daily living are significant predictors of community integration after stroke.