Abstract Objective To assess the functional disability level and identify associated factors in people after Ischemic Cerebral Vascular Accident. Methods A prospective cohort, carried out in a reference hospital in neurology with 224 people with ischemic stroke. Data collection took place between March and October 2019. Participants were followed up during hospitalization, when sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected using specific instruments and contacted after 90 days, by telephone call, to apply the Modified Barthel Index. In the analysis, descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test were applied. Statistical significance of 5% was adopted. Results Most had some degree of functional disability (58.5%), with 29.5% having moderate dependence and 29.0% having severe dependence. The variables being female (p=0.011), time of arrival at the reference hospital greater than or equal to 4.5 hours (p=0.017), previous stroke (p=0.031), not having undergone thrombolysis (p=0.023), having high blood pressure (p=0.032) and greater severity estimated by the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (p=0.000) were associated with a higher disability level. Conclusion Moderate to severe dependence predominated. The severity of the event, previous event, hypertension, non-submission to thrombolysis, delay in arriving at the hospital and female gender were associated with a higher functional disability level.

Resumen Objetivo Evaluar el nivel de incapacidad funcional e identificar los factores asociados en las personas después de un accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. Métodos Cohorte prospectiva, realizada en un hospital de referencia en neurología, con 224 personas con accidente cerebrovascular isquémico. La recopilación de datos se llevó a cabo entre marzo y octubre de 2019. Se acompañó a los participantes durante la internación, momento en que se recopilaron las variables sociodemográficas y clínicas mediante la utilización de instrumentos específicos, y se los contactó 90 días después, por teléfono, para aplicar el Índice de Barthel modificado. En el análisis se aplicó estadística descriptiva y la prueba χ2 de Pearson. Se adoptó significación estadística de 5 %. Resultados La mayoría presentó algún nivel de incapacidad funcional (58,5 %), de los cuales el 29,5 % presentó dependencia moderada y el 29,0 % dependencia severa o grave. Las siguientes variables fueron asociadas a un mayor nivel de incapacidad: sexo femenino (p=0,011), tiempo de llegada al hospital de referencia mayor o igual a 4,5 h (p=0,017), accidente cerebrovascular previo (p=0,031), no haber realizado trombólisis (p=0,023), tener hipertensión arterial (p=0,032) y mayor gravedad estimada por la National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (p=0,000). Conclusión Predominó la dependencia de moderada a grave. La gravedad del evento, evento previo, hipertensión, no realización de trombólisis, retraso de la llegada al hospital y sexo femenino fueron las variables asociadas a un mayor nivel de incapacidad funcional.

Resumo Objetivo Avaliar o nível de incapacidade funcional e identificar os fatores associados em pessoas após Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquêmico. Métodos Coorte prospectiva, realizada em hospital de referência em neurologia, com 224 pessoas com acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre março a outubro de 2019. Os participantes foram acompanhados durante a internação, quando as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas foram levantadas empregando-se instrumentos específicos e contatados após 90 dias, por ligação telefônica, para aplicação do Índice de Barthel modificado. Na análise, aplicou-se estatística descritiva e o teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson. Adotou-se significância estatística de 5%. Resultados A maioria apresentou algum grau de incapacidade funcional (58,5%), sendo que 29,5% apresentaram dependência moderada e 29,0% severa ou grave. As variáveis sexo feminino (p=0,011), tempo de chegada ao hospital de referência maior ou igual a 4,5h (p=0,017), Acidente vascular cerebral prévio (p=0,031), não ter realizado trombólise (p=0,023), ter hipertensão arterial (p=0,032) e maior gravidade estimada pela National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (p=0,000) foram associadas a maior nível de incapacidade. Conclusão Predominou a dependência de moderada a grave. A gravidade do evento, evento prévio, hipertensão, não submissão à trombólise, retardo à chegada ao hospital e sexo feminino foram associados a maior nível de incapacidade funcional.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major cause of death and functional disability worldwide. Knowledge of the associated factors is essential for defining education, management, and healthcare strategies. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between arrival time at a neurology referral hospital (ATRH) and functional disability in patients with ischemic stroke 90 days after the event. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study conducted at a public institution of higher education in Brazil. METHODS: This study included 241 people aged ≥ 18 years who presented ischemic stroke. The exclusion criteria were death, inability to communicate without companions who could answer the research questions, and > 10 days since ictus. Disability was assessed using the Rankin score (mR). Variables for which associations showed a P value ≤ 0.20 in bivariate analysis were tested as modifiers between ATRH and disability. Significant interaction terms were used for multivariate analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with all variables, arriving at the complete model and adjusted beta measures. The confounding variables were included in the robust logistic regression model, and Akaike’s Information Criterion was adopted to choose the final model. The Poisson model assumes a statistical significance of 5% and risk correction. RESULTS: Most participants (56.0%) arrived at the hospital within 4.5 hours of symptom onset, and 51.7% presented with mRs of 3 to 5 after 90 days of ictus. In the multivariate model, ATRH ≥ 4.5 hours and females were associated with more significant disability. CONCLUSIONS: Arrival at the referral hospital 4.5 hours after the onset of symptoms or wake-up stroke was an independent predictor of a high degree of functional disability.

Abstract Background Aphasia, the most common language disorder secondary to stroke, has been associated with increased mortality, longer hospitalization and rehabilitation times, worse performance in daily activities, increased financial burden, and short- and long-term complications. Aphasia can negatively impact functional communication skills, including social networks, social activities, relationships with other people and social support. Objective To evaluate patients with poststroke aphasia in their respective residences to investigate potential predictors of functional communication. Methods The prospective cohort included patients with poststroke aphasia aged 18 years or older who resided in the city of Salvador, Northeastern Brazil. Following discharge from the Stroke Unit (SU), the individuals themselves, or their guardians, were contacted by telephone to schedule a home visit no less than three months after discharge. At baseline, sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, in addition to the scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Barthel Index (mBI). The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) was applied at the patients’ homes. Multivariate linear regression was employed using the total score on the ASHA FACS as the outcome of interest. Results A multivariate analysis of the associated factors identified using the linear regression revealed that only functional capacity (as assessed by the mBI) upon discharge from the SU remained as an independent predictor of functional communication performance (β = 0.042; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 0.013–0.071; p = 0.002). Conclusion The functional capacity to perform daily activities, evaluated upon discharge from a stroke unit, was identified as a potential predictor of functional communication performance, regardless of the time elapsed after the stroke.

Resumo Antecedentes A afasia, distúrbio de linguagem mais comum secundário ao acidente vascular cerebral (AVC), está associada ao aumento da mortalidade, a um maior tempo de internação e reabilitação, ao pior desempenho nas atividades diárias, ao aumento da carga financeira, e às complicações de curto e longo prazos. Pode impactar negativamente as habilidades de comunicação funcional, incluindo atividades sociais, relacionamento com outras pessoas, e o apoio social. Objetivo Avaliar pacientes com afasia pós-AVC em suas respectivas residências para investigar potenciais preditores de comunicação funcional. Métodos A coorte prospectiva incluiu pacientes com afasia pós-AVC com 18 anos de idade ou mais, residentes em Salvador, Brasil. Após a alta da Unidade de AVC (UAVC), os próprios indivíduos, ou seus responsáveis, foram contatados por telefone para agendamento de visita domiciliar no mínimo três meses após a alta. Inicialmente, foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e clínicos, além das pontuações na National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) e no Índice de Barthel modificado (IBM). O American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Functional Assessment of Communication Skills for Adults (ASHA FACS) foi aplicado no domicílio dos pacientes. A regressão linear multivariada foi empregada usando a pontuação total no ASHA FACS como o desfecho de interesse. Resultados A análise multivariada por meio de regressão linear revelou que apenas a capacidade funcional avaliada na alta da UAVC permaneceu como preditor independente do desempenho da comunicação funcional (β = 0,042; intervalo de confiança de 95% [IC95%] = 0,013–0,071; p = 0,002). Conclusão A capacidade funcional para realizar as atividades diárias, avaliada na alta hospitalar, foi identificada como potencial preditor do desempenho da comunicação funcional, independente do tempo desde o AVC.