Multivariant analysis of stroke rehabilitation outcomes a pilot study in a Chinese population

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the motor recovery of the upper and lower extremities, and to explore the effects of post-stroke time, stroke subtype, age, affected side, and gender to the rehabilitation outcome of stroke in a Chinese population. From June 1999 to June 2002, 92 patients, who qualified for the research criteria from a hospital in china, were measured with the stroke rehabilitation assessment of movement. All data were analyzed with the statistical software SPSS 12.0. Based on the paired t-test and multiple regression analysis, the lower extremity had more complete and quicker recovery than the ipsilateral upper extremity. The post-stroke time was the single strongest predictor to both completion and efficiency or quickness of functional recovery. However, if other factors were considered, post-stroke time and stroke subtype together accounted for the largest amount of variance in completion of recovery, and post-stroke time and age together were best in predicting the quickness of recovery.