The proportion and clinical characteristics of patients with stroke who returned to work six months after discharge from a convalescent rehabilitation ward: a descriptive study.
Takashi Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Wada, Hirofumi Maeda and 5 others
PMID 40765717WHAT IT FOUND
Two-thirds of working-age stroke patients returned to work six months after discharge.
Those who did not return had higher rates of aphasia and lower cognitive scores, even when motor function and daily living skills were similar to those who returned.
Key findings
0166.1% of the analyzed patients returned to work six months after discharge.
02The non-return group had significantly higher rates of aphasia and lower cognitive subscores on the FIM than the return group.
03Motor function and daily living independence scores were high in both groups, suggesting cognitive and language barriers were more discriminating than physical ones for this cohort.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was single-center and retrospective, conducted only in Japan, limiting generalizability. Only 59 of 125 eligible patients responded to the questionnaire, introducing potential selection bias where those with better outcomes or higher functioning may have been more likely to respond. The analysis was exploratory and did not adjust for multiple comparisons or potential confounding variables due to the small sample size. Data on non-medical factors influencing return to work, such as family support, employer cooperation, or socioeconomic status, were not collected.
Declared interests
The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fujita Health University. No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest are detailed in the provided text, though the study was conducted at a university hospital.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that high physical independence scores guarantee a return to work. In this study, many patients who did not return to work had good motor function but struggled with aphasia or cognitive deficits, indicating that physical recovery alone is not the sole predictor of vocational success.