Who goeshome?Predictive factors instroke recovery

Cerebrovascular disease isthethird major causeof -death indeveloped countries. Itisthemostfrequent causeofchronic disability intheUK,'necessitating a greatdealofcareinvolving humanandmaterial resources.Astudy wasplanned toinvestigate whether it waspossible topredict, onthebasis ofsimple assessmentsintheearly stagesofillness, theprobable outcome ofa patient's stroke inpractical termswith regard tohisfuture needs. Itwas thought likely that factors other thanthepurely clinical onesmight play a partanda multidisciplinary teamconsisting ofa doctor, psychologist, physiotherapist andoccupational therapist seemed appropriate. Thehelpofa statistical expert was alsoprovided throughout the project. Clinical features indicative ofearly death in theacutestage arewellknown.2 Ourmaininterest was inthepossibility ofdifferentiating between patients likely toachieve domestic and/or personal independence totheextent ofbecoming able tolive in thecommunity andthose needing long terminstitutional care.Wealso wished todetermine what, ifany, effect rehabilitative treatment hason thecourseof recoveryandoutcome.