Rehabilitation following stroke in patients aged 85 and above.

To assess the course and results of rehabilitation following stroke in the oldest old, we conducted a prospective study to compare 45 patients 85 years and above and 220 consecutive patients aged 75 to 84 years who were hospitalized for rehabilitation following stroke. Functional status was measured and compared by the Functional Independence Measuretrade mark(FIM) scale and successful rehabilitation was defined as FIM > 80 at discharge. Eighteen patients in the 85+ group (40%) underwent successful rehabilitation compared with 115 (52%) in the 75 to 84 group (not significant). No significant differences were found between the groups in any other parameters that measure success and/or efficacy of rehabilitation, but in all these parameters, without exception, there were lower values in the 85+ group. No differences in the length of rehabilitation and complications rates were found between groups. We conclude that although the success rate for rehabilitation following stroke is lower in the oldest old, it appears that the effort invested in rehabilitating patients in this group is no less justified than in younger elderly patients.