http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-08/overhaul-of-rehab-programs-for-stroke-survivors/7229786
By Dan Cox
Australian researchers are calling for a national strategy to maintain or improve physical function in older stroke survivors.
The
team from the University of Newcastle used 15 years of data from the
Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health, and found many who
survived stroke lived longer than 15 years with poor physical function.Lead author Isobel Hubbard said she found that few recovered from the low levels of physical function after suffering a stroke.
Dr Hubbard said it showed physicians needed to reconsider the support and rehabilitation programs that improved quality of life.
Perhaps we've assumed that this group didn't need too many healthcare resources because they simply weren't going to live very long.Isobel Hubbard, Newcastle researcher
"Over 50 per cent of women with stroke were surviving over 10 years. A quarter of those who surviving even with poor physical function," she said.
"That means that they're not able to get up a flight of stairs, or easily pick up their groceries, or easily manage bathing and dressing.
"That's really quite an extraordinary outcome."
Dr Hubbard said given many of the women could expect to live for a significant amount of time, doctors needed to think about improving their quality of life.
"The tend to be a group that have perhaps have gone under everybody's radar," she said.
"Perhaps we've assumed that this group didn't need too many healthcare resources because they simply weren't going to live very long.
"But now we know, in fact, that is not necessarily true.
"So I think we just need to re-look at what we're offering this particular group of women."
The results have been published in the American Heart Association journal, Stroke.
Dean you are right preventing damage should be a priority but we can't forget the desperate situation so many people post stroke are currently living in.
ReplyDeleteI would add that the idea of maintaining or improving poor physical function should really start with asking what can we do to help with improving quality of life for these ladies that are already living for years with disability. That might include working on improving physical function... but it might need to start with making sure that they can afford those groceries, that she can get those groceries to her place and that she is fed or can cook safely. Then lets talk about physical function.