[5 years follow-up study of stroke patients over 65 years of age]

A total of 289 stroke patients over age 65 were followed-up 5 years post-discharge from in-patient rehabilitation. Predictors of the course following discharge are investigated and geriatric rehabilitation assessed based on data gathered during in-patient rehabilitation as well as follow-up findings. 40% of the patients were alive 5 years post-discharge; the average annual death rate of 14.6% had been three times higher than among a control group. 67% are living in their own home, 21% in a nursing facility, and 12% in a residence for the elderly; only 3 of the surviving patients had to move to a nursing home post discharge. The patients' independence had reduced by an average 5 points on the Barthel index. Negative predictors for survival had been the presence of cardiac disease, Diabetes mellitus, psycho-organic syndrome and depression at discharge. However, as is the case for age as such, these conditions do not affect survivors' functional outcomes. Two thirds of the patients consider their state of health as constant or improved; only one fifth were rated as having a poor quality of life. The data gathered for the follow-up patients show that geriatric stroke rehabilitation is worthwhile.