Functional abilities after stroke: measurement, natural history and prognosis.

TLDR

The Barthel index items form a hierarchical scale. The study assessed functional performance of 976 acute stroke patients with the Barthel index to determine disability frequency, validity, and recovery. At 6 months, more than 45 % of survivors were functionally independent; the Barthel index validity was confirmed, and recovery was seen in almost all patients with urinary incontinence, functional ability, sitting balance, and age as major prognostic factors.

Abstract

Actual functional performance of 976 acute stroke patients was assessed using the Barthel index: the data were analysed to determine the frequency of disability after stroke, the validity of the Barthel index, and the recovery seen. At 6 months, over 45% of survivors were functionally independent. Validity of the Barthel index was confirmed: it related as expected with motor loss and factor analysis showed a single major factor. The items of the Barthel index form an hierarchical scale. There was some recovery between 3 weeks and 6 months in almost all patients: the major prognostic factors were urinary incontinence, functional ability, sitting balance and age.