Improved functions and reduced length of stay after inpatient rehabilitation programs in older adults with stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

BACKGROUND: to examine the effects of inpatient rehabilitation programs on function and length of stay in older adults with stroke METHODS: A total of five electronic databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of inpatient rehabilitation programs on functional recovery, as measured by the functional independence measure and length of stay, which was measured in days. We included full-text articles written in English, and no time limit. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale and the Cochrane collaboration tools respectively. The effect sizes and confidence intervals were estimated using fixed-effect models RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials involving 1,910 patients with stroke were included in the meta-analysis showed that patients who participated in the inpatient rehabilitation programs had significantly (p less than 0.05) higher functional independence measure scores (effect size = 0.10; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.01, 0.22) and shorter length of stay (effect size = 0.14; 95 percent confidence interval = 0.03, 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review provided evidence that inpatient rehabilitation programs have beneficial effects, improving functionality and reducing length of stay for older adults with stroke.