Unilateral Spatial Neglect As An Independent Prognostic Factor For Poor Fim Efficiency In Patients With Mild To Moderate Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: Unilateral spatial neglect (USN) is often observed in ischemic stroke patients suffered their right parietal lobe. USN is an obstacle to undergo rehabilitation smoothly, then might influence the recovery of activities of daily living (ADL) after stroke. We aimed to clarify the association between the presence of USN after ischemic stroke and the ADL improvement. Methods: Consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke and left limb paralysis who admitted to within 7 days from onset during February 2011 and March 2019 were included. Patients met the following criteria were excluded: mRS ≥3 before onset, NIHSS >15 on admission, without left limb paralysis, and missing NIHSS or functional independence measure (FIM) score on admission. Multiple regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between FIM efficiency score of acute phase and following factors: age, sex, acute reperfusion therapy (using an intravenous infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and/or endovascular therapy), FIM score on admission, and other clinical characteristics. All data were collected retrospectively using our electrical health record. Results: 721 ischemic stroke patients with left limb paralysis (320 women, median age 76) were included. Median FIM efficiency score was significantly lower in patients with USN than without USN (n=240, 481; 0.83 vs 1.63, respectively). Multiple regression analysis showed that USN, age, and acute reperfusion therapy were significant prognostic factors of FIM efficiency (coefficient and 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.135 [-0.771 to -0.153], -0.106 [-0.022 to -0.002], and 0.224 [0.136 to 0.305], respectively). Conclusions: USN significantly influence the recovery of ADL after ischemic stroke. Clinicians should adequately evaluate USN after stroke and undergo USN-specific rehabilitation for them to optimize the effect of post-stroke rehabilitation. USN-specific rehabilitation might lead to better FIM efficiency.