Association between Undernutrition at Admission and Improvement in Balance Function Post-stroke

The prognosis for activities of daily living (ADL) ability after stroke is negatively influenced by undernutrition and impaired balance. However, the association between undernutrition and balance improvement has not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the influence of undernutrition on balance function improvement in patients with stroke.

This retrospective observational study included patients with cerebral infarction aged ≥65 years. The study period was from May 2018 to May 2022. The patients were divided into undernutrition and intact nutrition groups according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria. The primary outcome was the change in the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score (BBS score at discharge - BBS score at admission).

This study included 304 patients (mean age, 79.2 ± 8.1 years; 173 men and 131 women). These patients were divided into the undernutrition (N = 114) and intact nutrition (N = 190) groups. The undernutrition group demonstrated lower BBS scores at admission (16.0 ± 17.1 vs. 28.3 ± 18.4, p < 0.001) and at discharge (24.2 ± 19.6 vs. 40.0 ± 16.9, p < 0.001) than the intact nutrition group. After adjusting for confounding factors, undernutrition was associated with a smaller change in the BBS score (coefficient = -2.988, 95% confidence interval = -5.481 to -0.495, p = 0.019).

Undernutrition negatively influences balance function recovery in post-stroke patients. A strategy aimed at improving nutritional status could have beneficial effects on patients' balance function.