The profile of recovery from stroke and factors influencing outcome.

The recovery from stroke of 154 survivors out of 255 stroke patients was analyzed. The outcomes documented were: discharge from hospital, activities of daily living (ADL) and return to work. A clear improvement in neurological and neuropsychological deficits was seen from the acute stage to three months, and this continued to twelve months, but to a lesser degree. 69% and 78% respectively, of the patients were at home three and twelve months after stroke. Independence in ADL increased from 32% acutely to 62% and 68% by three and twelve months, respectively. Of those gainfully employed prior to stroke, 55% had returned to work after twelve months. As a group, SAH patients seemed to recover better, but, for those that could be age-matched with infarction patients, there was no difference in outcome. Old age, acute stage hemiparesis, impairment of intelligence and memory, visuoperceptual deficits, nonadequate emotional reactions, and living alone all had a major negative influence on outcome. This study sugg...