Cognitive Impairment after Stroke – Impact on Activities of Daily Living and Costs of Care for Elderly People

Vol. 19, No. 2, 2005

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Original Paper

Cognitive Impairment after Stroke - Impact on Activities of Daily Living and Costs of Care for Elderly People
Lisbeth Claesson^{a, c}, Thomas Lindén^a, Ingmar Skoog^b, Christian Blomstrand^a

Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University,
^aInstitute of Clinical Neuroscience, Stroke Research Group,
^bNeuroepidemiology Group and
^cInstitute of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Cerebrovasc Dis 2005;19:102-109 (DOI: 10.1159/000082787)

Key Words

Cognitive impairments
Activities of daily living
Health care costs

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The economic burden of stroke is substantial and is likely to increase with an increasing number of elderly individuals in the population. There is thus a need for information on the use of health care resources and costs among these elderly stroke patients. We examined the impact of the cognitive impairments on the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) and utilization and costs of health care in a cohort of elderly stroke patients. Methods: One hundred and forty-nine patients aged 70 years with acute stroke were included. The patients were assessed regarding their ability to carry out ADL and health resource utilization and cost during the first year after stroke. Cognitive impairments were assessed 18 months after the index stroke. Results: Stroke severity in acute stroke andcognitive impairment at 18 months after stroke onset was associated with impairment in ADL and increased costs for utilisation of care during the first year. Patients with cognitive impairment were more dependent on personal assistance in ADL. Costs per patient during the study were three times higher for patients with cognitive impairment. Hospital care, institutional living and different kinds of support from society accounted forthe highest costs. Conclusions: Costs of care utilisation during the first year after stroke were associated with cognitive impairments, stroke severity and dependence in ADL. The results should be interpreted cautiously as the assessment of cognitive function was made 18 months after stroke onset and costs were estimated for the first year after stroke.

Author Contacts

Lisbeth Claesson
Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Stroke Research Group
The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital
Blå Stråket 7, 2 tr, SE-413 45 Göteborg (Sweden)
Tel. +46 31 342 22 91, Fax +46 31 741 26 59, E-Mail licl@neuro.gu.se

Article Information

Received: November 24, 2003
Accepted: August 2, 2004
Published online: December 17, 2004
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 2, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 37

Medline Abstract (ID 15608434)

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