Predictors of Spasticity 3-6 Months Post Stroke: A 5-Year Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of post stroke spasticity (PSS; modified Ashworth Scale scores, mAS ≥1) at 3-6 months post stroke.

DESIGN: A 5-year (2015-2020) retrospective cohort of patients who attended inpatient stroke rehabilitation in Southwestern Ontario, Canada were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, stroke-related, rehabilitation-related, and outcome measure data were extracted from paper charts and electronic databases.

RESULTS: Of the 922 individuals attending inpatient stroke rehabilitation, 606 (55.8% males; mean age = 70.9 ± 14.2 years) returned for an outpatient visit. Most patients had a first ever (n = 518; 85.5%), ischemic (n = 470; 77.6%) stroke with hemiplegia (n = 449, 74.1%). A total of 20.3% (N = 122) of patients had developed PSS by 4 months post stroke. A binary logistic regression significantly predicted PSS (χ2(6) = 111.696, p < .0001) with good model fit (χ2(8) = 12.181, p = .143). There were six significant PSS predictors: hemorrhagic stroke (p = .049), younger age (p < .001), family history of stroke (p = .015), Functional Independence Measure admission score (p < .001), use of SSRIs p = .044), and hemiplegia (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients should be monitored closely for PSS after discharge from stroke rehabilitation and throughout the care continuum.