Original Article

Differences in FIM improvement rate stratified by nutritional status and age in stroke patients in kaifukuki (convalescent) rehabilitation ward

Yuta Fujitaka, PT, MS, Naojiro Tanaka, PT, MS, Hisae Nakadai, PT, Rina Sato, PT, Mitsuko Watanabe, ST, MS, Noriko Kageyama, RD, Takatsugu Okamoto, MD, PhD
Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 8: 98-103, 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the differences in improvement rate of Functional Independence Measure score (FIM) stratified by nutritional status and age in stroke patients admitted to a kaifukuki (convalescent) rehabilitation ward (KRW).
Methods: Stroke patients aged 60 years or older admitted to the KRW in our hospital between May 2013 and February 2015 were studied. Patients with Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF) score 7 or below at admission were classified in the malnutrition group, and those with score 8 or above in the normal nutrition group. Each group was further stratified by age into 60s, 70s, and 80 and older, with a total of 6 groups. FIM effectiveness was calculated as an indicator of FIM improvement rate, and multiple comparison was conducted among groups.
Results: FIM effectiveness did not differ among age groups in the normal nutrition group, but was significantly lower in patients aged >-80 compared to those aged 60s and 70s in the malnutrition group.
Conclusion: In stroke patients with malnutrition, the FIM improvement rate decreased as age increased. This finding suggests that in order to conduct rehabilitation efficiently, the nutritional status should be taken into consideration when planning the rehabilitation program, especially in patients of advanced age.

Key words: Kaifukuki rehabilitation ward, stroke, nutritional status, age groups, FIM improvement rate

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