Correlation between trunk function improvement and recovery of activities of daily living after stroke in older adult patients.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of improved trunk function on activities of daily living in stroke patients using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM).

METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 65 years who had cerebral infarction. Patients were divided into a group with improved trunk function and a group without trunk function improvement based on the difference between the calculated Functional Assessment for Control of Trunk (FACT) gain at discharge and admission.

RESULTS: Of the 218 patients (mean age, 79.5 ± 7.9 years; 56.9% were men) included, 110 patients had improved FACT scores. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the group with improved FACT scores had higher FIM gain (coefficient = 7.562, 95% confidence interval = 3.870-11.253, P  < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that the factors associated with FACT score improvement were the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form score at admission, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission, FACT score at admission, length of hospital stay, and period of rehabilitation.

DISCUSSIONS: Improvement in trunk function suggests a positive correlation with the recovery of activities of daily living in patients with cerebral infarction. This relationship should be further validated through prospective observational studies.