Impact of Changing Medication Use on Stroke Recovery
Author Information
Author(s): Hanaoka Shunsuke, Iwabuchi Kaede, Hirai Toshiyuki, Seki Toshiichi, Hayashi Hiroyuki
Primary Institution: Nihon University
Hypothesis
Patients in whom the number of drugs used decreased would have better rehabilitation outcomes than those in whom the number of drugs used increased.
Conclusion
Reducing the number of drugs administered during recovery-phase rehabilitation could improve rehabilitation outcomes for patients with stroke.
Supporting Evidence
- 156 patients were matched on propensity score.
- Total motor FIM gain was significantly higher in the decreased group than in the increased group.
- Total cognitive FIM gain was also significantly higher in the decreased group.
Takeaway
If you take fewer medicines after a stroke, you might get better at doing everyday things faster.
Methodology
The study used a retrospective cohort design with propensity score matching to compare patients who increased or decreased their medication use during rehabilitation.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias due to exclusion of patients with no change in medication use.
Limitations
The study was single-center and retrospective, which may limit generalizability and did not consider drug dose and administration period.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 74 years, with 68 women and 88 men.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.0139 for motor FIM gain, p = 0.0377 for cognition FIM gain, p = 0.0077 for total FIM gain.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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