Postadmission function best predicts acute hospital outcomes after stroke

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the relative value of selected variables for predicting three acute hospital outcomes (length of stay, charges, discharge destination) after stroke. Design: Data were obtained prospectively from 92 patients admitted with ischemic stroke to an acute care hospital. The relationship between five independent variables (age, sex, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] scores, prestroke Barthel Index scores, and postadmission Barthel Index scores) and the three outcome variables (hospital length of stay, hospital charges, and hospital discharge destination) were examined. Results: Significant bivariate correlations were found between two predictors (NIHSS scores and Barthel Index scores) and all three outcome variables. Regression analysis showed that once postadmission Barthel Index scores were accounted for, no other variable added to the prediction of hospital length of stay or discharge destination. The NIHSS score added to the explanation of hospital charges provided by postadmission Barthel Index scores. Conclusions: Postadmission Barthel Index scores were the best predictor of the three outcomes measured in this study.