Data di Pubblicazione:
2006
Citazione:
Incidence of aphasia in acute stroke patients: PROSIT study / A. Bersano, F. Burgio, M. Gattinoni, A. Basso, L. Candelise. - In: STROKE. - ISSN 0039-2499. - 37:2(2006 Feb), pp. 691-691.
Abstract:
Background/Objective: Post stroke disability has been always related to motor impairment but
there are some evidences that cognitive disturbances such as aphasia may contribute to stroke
patients outcome. Data about the incidence and the contribute of aphasia on disability in stroke
are still lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of aphasia and to compare
clinical and demographic features in patients with and without aphasia. The populations
studied is part of the Italian PROSIT study conducted during 2001. Methods: 15 researchers
evaluated retrospectively 12.206 acute stroke patients’clinical records registering demographic,
clinical and neurological conditions. From the initial series unconsciousness patients
(2567) were excluded in order to avoid bias in aphasia estimation. The presence of aphasia was
registered when reported on the first neurological examination. Non specific test for aphasia
diagnosis were used. The 2 years follow-up was completed in 98% of patients. Results: Out
of 9953 stroke patients 26% were aphasic. Of these patients the 74% presented arm and/or
limb weakness that was in 82% on the right side, in 16% on the left side, in 2% bilateral.
Aphasia seemed to be more frequent in women than man (53% vs 47%) and in patients older
than 75 y.o. (59% vs 46%). Aphasic patients had a more severe stroke than non aphasics: 33%
of aphasics compared to 15% of non-aphasics (p 0.000) presented plegia in arm and/or limb
and 14% of aphasics compared to 12% of non aphasics (p 0.006) presented an ICH at CT
scan. Aphasics died more frequently than non aphasics during hospitalisation and at follow up
(10% vs 4% and 26% vs 16% respectively) and presented a more severe long term disability
(Rankin scale score 2) than non aphasics (48% and 34%, respectively). Conclusions: This
is the first study evaluating the incidence of aphasia in a wide Italian population of acute stroke
patients. We found the presence of aphasia in 26% of acute stroke patients according to
previous reports in other countries. The presence of aphasia is a component of long term
disability in stroke patients. These findings suggest the need to plan speech rehabilitation
programs all aphasic patients in order to reduce their long-term disability.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
aphasia, stroke, disability
Elenco autori:
A. Bersano, F. Burgio, M. Gattinoni, A. Basso, L. Candelise
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