Long-term functional recovery according to age after stroke in Burkina Faso

Stroke is a major cause of disability. The objective of this study was to evaluate functional recovery according to age among patients followed for stroke at Sourô-Sanou University Hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso. This was a retrospective, prospective, cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients from January 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2019. It concerned all patients over 15 years old and still alive when discharged from the neurology unit after a stroke. We included 58 patients, 37 of whom were 60 years or under and 21 of whom were over 60 years old. The average age was 47.1 ± 10.1 years for the younger group and 70.7 ± 7.4 years for the older group. The gender ratio was 0.75. Cardiovascular risk factors did not differ between the two groups with the exception of alcohol consumption (P = 0.01). Educational attainment (P = 0.008) and use of physiotherapy (P = 0.02) were significantly lower among older patients. Post-hospitalization assessment was performed on average 3.1 years (±0.96) after the stroke. The modified Rankin score (P = 0.04) and the Barthel index score (P = 0.03) were significantly better among younger patients. The predictors of functional independence were age ≤ 60 years (P = 0.02; OR: 0.25; CI 95% 0.07–0.87), and the modified Rankin score ≤ 2 (P = 0.02; OR : 0.07; CI 95% 0.01–0.64). Our study shows greater motor impairment and lesser functional independence for subjects over the age of 60 after a stroke. Stepping up functional rehabilitation measures among older subjects could improve recovery.