[Influence of Pre-existing Cognitive Impairment on Rehabilitation Outcomes in Patients with Cerebral Infarction].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study determined the effects of pre-existing cognitive impairment (PreCI) on the rehabilitation outcomes in patients with cerebral infarction.

METHODS: From June 2013 to August 2015, we classified 52 patients with unilateral cerebral hemispheric infarction into the PreCI and non-PreCI group based on three-dimensional stereotactic surface projection (3D-SSP) cerebral blood flow (CBF) decrease images and the past history of dementia. Furthermore we investigated the related clinical factors and functional independence measure (FIM).

RESULTS: 1. Multivariate analysis revealed that the most important factors that affect total FIM at discharge were age, National institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) (R²=0.756). 2. The mean CBF values (P<0.05) were significantly associated with lesion volume, (P<0.001, P<0.05), the NIHSS score (P<0.001, P<0.01), the MMSE score (P<0.001, P<0.005), and total FIM (P<0.005, P<0.05) at discharge. 3. Both cognitive and motor FIM at discharge were significantly lower in the PreCI group (P<0.005, P<0.005). 4. The MMSE score of ZSAM abnormal group was significantly lower in the case of NIHSS score<10 of lesion and non lesion sides.

CONCLUSIONS: PreCI, age, and neurological severity, affected the outcomes of stroke rehabilitation Therefore, the diagnosis of PreCI is considered important for effective stroke rehabilitation. (Received August 3, 2017; Accepted February 9, 2018; Published June 1, 2018).