Do Falls Experienced During Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Affect Length of Stay, Functional Status, and Discharge Destination?

OBJECTIVE: To compare length of stay, functional status, and discharge destination between individuals who fell during inpatient stroke rehabilitation and those who did not fall. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Rehabilitation hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals who fell during inpatient stroke rehabilitation (n=106; fallers group; mean age, 67.8±12.9y; mean time poststroke, 26.4±28.3d) were matched to individuals who did not fall (n=106; nonfallers group; mean age, 67.3±13.6y; mean time poststroke, 21.9±28.8d) on age and functional status (N=212). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total length of stay, FIM assessed at discharge, and discharge destination. RESULTS: The mean length of stay for fallers was 11 days longer than nonfallers (P=.0017). Nonfallers and fallers did not differ on discharge total FIM scores (P=.19), and both groups were discharged home after inpatient rehabilitation (nonfallers: 77%; fallers: 74%; P=.52). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that falls experienced during inpatient stroke rehabilitation may have contributed to a longer length of stay; however, falls did not affect discharge functional status or discharge destination.