Referral to Community-Based Rehabilitation Following Acute Stroke: Findings From the COMPASS Pragmatic Trial

• Published in: Circulation Cardiovascular quality and outcomes Vol. 17; no. 1; p. e010026
• Main Authors: Jones Berkeley, Sara B, Johnson, Anna M, Mormer, Elizabeth R, Ressel, Kristin, Pastva, Amy M, Wen, Fang, Patterson, Charity G, Duncan, Pamela W, Bushnell, Cheryl D, Zhang, Shuqi, Freburger, Janet K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Female; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient - therapy; Male; Medicare; Patient Discharge; Referral and Consultation; Stroke - diagnosis; Stroke - therapy; Stroke Rehabilitation; United States; United States; stroke rehabilitation; physical therapy; transient ischemic attack; speech therapy; stroke; occupational therapy
• ISSN: 1941-7713; 1941-7705
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.123.010026

Few studies on care transitions following acute stroke have evaluated whether referral to community-based rehabilitation occurred as part of discharge planning. Our objectives were to describe the extent to which patients discharged home were referred to community-based rehabilitation and identify the patient, hospital, and community-level predictors of referral. We examined data from 40 North Carolina hospitals that participated in the COMPASS (Comprehensive Post-Acute Stroke Services) cluster-randomized trial. Participants included adults discharged home following stroke or transient ischemic attack (N=10  702). In this observational analysis, COMPASS data were supplemented with hospital-level and county-level data from various sources. The primary outcome was referral to community-based rehabilitation (physical, occupational, or speech therapy) at discharge. Predictor variables included patient (demographic, stroke-related, medical history), hospital (structure, process), and community (therapist supply) measures. We used generalized linear mixed models with a hospital random effect and hierarchical backward model selection procedures to identify predictors of therapy referral. Approximately, one-third (36%) of stroke survivors (mean age, 66.8 [SD, 14.0] years; 49% female, 72% White race) were referred to community-based rehabilitation. Rates of referral to physical, occupational, and speech therapists were 31%, 18%, and 10%, respectively. Referral rates by hospital ranged from 3% to 78% with a median of 35%. Patient-level predictors included higher stroke severity, presence of medical comorbidities, and older age. Female sex (odds ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.12-1.38]), non-White race (2.20 [2.01-2.44]), and having Medicare insurance (1.12 [1.02-1.23]) were also predictors of referral. Referral was higher for patients living in counties with greater physical therapist supply. Much of the variation in referral across hospitals remained unexplained. One-third of stroke survivors were referred to community-based rehabilitation. Patient-level factors predominated as predictors. Variation across hospitals was notable and presents an opportunity for further evaluation and possible targets for improved poststroke rehabilitative care. URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02588664.