Executive Function as a Strong Predictor of Recovery from Disability in Patients with Acute Stroke: A Preliminary Study

Background: Cognitive impairment impedes stroke rehabilitation. However, it is unclear whether cognitive impairment of specific domains or the degree of severity is more critical to functional recovery in patients with poststroke disability. Methods: We identified 182 patients who were disabled at 3 months after acute stroke, as defined by a modified Rankin Scale score of 2-5. At a single time point between 3 months and 1 year after onset, the following 4 cognitive domains were assessed: executive function, visuospatial ability, language, and memory. With respect to the severity of cognitive impairment, the patients were classified as having vascular dementia (VD), vascular cognitive impairment no dementia (VCIND), or normal cognition. The primary outcome was functional recovery between 3 months and 1 year after onset. To examine the association between cognitive status and functional recovery, multiple logistic regression with backward stepwise analysis was performed. Results: A total of 74 (40.7% of 182) patients demonstrated functional improvement at 1 year compared with 3 months. Patients with executive impairment demonstrated significantly less improvement in functional outcomes, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of .472 (95% confidence interval [CI], .245-.910). Patients with VD also demonstrated less functional recovery, with an adjusted OR of .289 (95% CI,.120-.700). The remaining 3 cognitive domains and VCIND were not significantly associated with functional recovery. Conclusions: Executive function is a strong predictor of recovery from disability in patients with acute stroke. In addition, functional recovery is significantly hampered by cognitive impairment due to VD, but not VCIND.