Correlates of dependent living 3 months after ischemic stroke

To examine the correlates of dependent living after ischemic stroke, a consecutive cohort of 486 patients aged 55-85 years was examined 3 months after the index stroke. Detailed medical, neurological and radiological stroke evaluation, structured measures of cognition, emotion and behavior, activities of daily living (ADL), physical disability, and assessment of dependent living were performed. Independent correlates of dependent living 3 months after stroke were the presence of the major hemispheral stroke syndrome (odds ratio, OR, 11.8, 95% confidence interval, CI, 7.2-19.9), and a combination of handicap (Rankin Scale, OR 3.9, 95% CI 2.6-6.1), cognition (DSM-III-R dementia, OR 3.9, CI 1.5-10.7, any cognitive decline, OR 4.5, CI 2.0-11.2), and ADL [Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ), OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.2]. The Rankin Scale explained 51.5%, FAQ 5.9% and presence of DSM-III-R dementia or any cognitive decline 3.4% of the total variance between dependent and independent patients after stroke. Independent of the effects of physical disability, presence of cognitive impairment has important functional consequences on stroke patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of the evaluation of cognitive functions in both observational and interventional clinical trials, as well as in treatment planning, rehabilitation and guidance of patients with ischemic stroke.