Donepezil improves gait performance in patients with an acute cerebral infarction: a prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hemiplegia is a common symptom after acute cerebral infarction. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influence factors of gait performance and investigate whether donepezil could improve gait performance in patients with an acute cerebral infarction. METHODS: A total of 107 patients who experienced unilateral paresis after an acute cerebral infarction incident were enrolled in this prospectively observational study. Participants underwent 3-month assessment. At the study's conclusion, patients were divided into 2 groups-those received daily donepezil (observation Group) and those not (Control Group). RESULTS: There was significant difference (t=3.269, p=0.001) of Wisconsin Gait Scale (WGS) score between single site infarction (27.11+/-6.65) and multiple sites infarction (31.54+/-6.42). For gender, smoking, drinking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, there was no difference of WGS scores between subgroups (p>0.05), respectively. Patient's admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score had strongly positive correlation with WGS score (r=0.850, p 0.05). And WGS scores of both single site and multiple sites infarction gradually decreased at one month and three months after admission (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: Admission NIHSS score, age and multiple sites infarction were independent risk factors of WGS score. Donepezil could improve gait performance in patients with an acute cerebral infarction.