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(Stroke. 2005;36:2676.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.
Original Contributions |
From the Research Bureau (B.K.), Isala klinieken, Zwolle, The Netherlands; Rehabilitation Centre "De Hoogstraat", Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht (I.v.d.P., E.L., G.K.), The Netherlands; and EMGO Institute/Department of KEB (J.T.), VU Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to G. Kwakkel, PhD, Senior Researcher, Rudolf Magnus Institute, Department of Rehabilitation, University Medical Centre, PO Box 85060, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail g.kwakkel{at}vumc.nl
| Abstract |
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Methods A total of 101 acute stroke patients with first-ever ischemic middle cerebral artery strokes was used as the population. Prospective cohort study based on 18 repeated measurements over time during the first poststroke year. Baseline characteristics as well as longitudinal information from functional ambulation categories (FAC), FuglMeyer leg score (FM-leg), Motricity index leg score (MI-leg), letter cancellation task (LCT), Fugl-Meyer balance (FM-balance), and timed balance test (TBT) were obtained. Intervention consisted of a basic rehabilitation program with additional arm, leg, or air splint therapy. Main outcome measure constituted change scores on FAC over time.
Results In total, 1532 of the 1717 change scores were available for regression analysis. The regression model showed that TBT change scores were the most important factor in predicting improvement on FAC (ß=0.094; P<0.001) followed by changes scores on FM-leg (ß=0.014; P<0.001) and reduction in LCT omissions (ß=0.010; P<0.001) and MI leg test (ß=0.001; P<0.001). In addition, time itself was significantly negatively associated with improvement (ß=0.002; P<0.001).
Conclusion Improvement in standing balance control is more important than improvement in leg strength or synergism to achieve improvement in walking ability, whereas reduction in visuospatial inattention is independently related to improvement of gait. Finally, time itself is an independent covariate that is negatively associated with change on FAC, suggesting that most pronounced improvements occur earlier after stroke.
Key Words: cerebrovascular accident gait longitudinal studies prognosis recovery of function
| Introduction |
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Within the last 2 decades, new statistical techniques such as random coefficient modeling (multilevel modeling or hierarchical modeling) have been developed that correct for the dependency of repeated measurements within each individual.79 The use of this technique allows for analysis of the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between covariates simultaneously while taking the dependency of repeated measurements of individuals into account.9 In standard multilevel hierarchical regression modeling, the regression coefficients presented collectively reflect the cross-sectional (ie, so-called between-subjects variation) as well as the longitudinal relationship (ie, so-called within-subject variation) between determinant(s) and outcome. This constitutes a limitation in the event the absolute differences between subjects exceed the changes over time. Consequently, the longitudinal within-subject relationships will be more or less overruled by the cross-sectional relationships.10 This is likely to occur in particular when the time periods between repeated measurements are relatively short and the within-subject correlation high, which is often the case in stroke.4,11 Because of this limitation, we elected to use a model in which the cross-sectional component is more or less "removed" from the analysis by modeling only change scores. By modeling longitudinal change scores, one can develop a rationale for the impact of improvements of underlying functions, such as strength, synergism, and balance control on changes in walking ability (ie, quasi-causal relationships).10
In the present study, we initially investigated the bivariate longitudinal relationship of improvements in walking ability and patient characteristics at baseline and improvements in impairments and functional limitations during the first year after stroke using the following time-dependent covariates: leg strength, leg synergism, visual hemi-inattention, and balance control. Subsequently, we developed a multivariate multilevel regression model for the prediction of functional improvements in gait as a function of time.
| Materials and Methods |
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Measurements
To investigate the longitudinal impact of recovery from impairments on gait, we modeled first-order change scores from 18 repeated measurements of different impairments to fit the change scores observed in walking ability.4 All time-dependent measurements were taken weekly, starting from within 14 days after stroke onset. From week 10 to week 20, biweekly measurements were obtained, whereas follow-up measurements were performed at 26, 38, and 52 weeks after stroke. All assessments were done by 1 observer (G.K) who was blinded for treatment assignment. Walking ability was assessed with the functional ambulation categories (FAC). The FAC is a reliable and valid assessment comprising of 6 categories designed to provide information on the level of physical support needed by patients to ambulate. Walking devices were allowed to be used during the measurements with the exception of a rollator or walker. Age, gender, hemisphere of stroke, and social support were used as time-independent covariates and severity of paresis, stage of synergism, control for standing balance, and severity of visuospatial inattention as time-dependent covariates in the multilevel regression model.
Motricity index (MI) was used to measure strength in upper and lower extremities. This instrument reliably assesses the presence of a paresis in stroke patients. It uses a weighted score to a maximum of 100 points for each extremity and is derived from the Medical Research Council grades. It tests 6 limb movements. Balance was measured with the timed balance test (TBT). This instrument consists of 5 components on an ordinal scale and involves timed balance (ie, 60 seconds) on progressively diminishing support surfaces. The FuglMeyer evaluation was used to assess motor performance. The motor section of this extensive test consists of upper limb, wrist, hand, as well as lower limb ordinal scaled components. Basically, it grades the degree to which dependence on synergic movements is present. Finally, the letter cancellation task (LCT) was applied to demonstrate the presence of neglect. Patients are requested to cross certain letters among many letters of the alphabet on a sheet of paper containing 5 lines of letters (34 per line). The difference in the number of crossed letters on the paretic and nonparetic side is scored.
Statistical Analysis
The random coefficient analysis was performed with MLwiN.12 The iterative generalized least-squares algorithm was used to estimate the regression coefficients.13 Before conducting the random coefficient analysis, we calculated the change between subsequent measurements of the time-dependent covariates. These change scores were then plotted to check for compliance with model assumptions. Because time constitutes an independent covariate, random coefficient analysis enables longitudinal analysis of unequally spaced time points of measurement.
To investigate the possible longitudinal association between walking ability on FAC and covariates, initially bivariate longitudinal regression analysis was conducted with FAC change scores and time-independent covariates at baseline, such as age, gender, and lateralization of stroke, as well as with t1 change scores of the time-dependent covariates MI-leg, FuglMeyer leg score (FM-leg), Fugl-Meyer balance (FM-balance), TBT, and LCT (see Appendix, models 1 and 2). Subsequently, standardized regression coefficients were calculated, and a multivariate regression model for predicting functional recovery of gait based on FAC scores was developed (see Appendix, model 3).
The likelihood ratio test was used to evaluate the necessity for allowing random regression coefficients into the model, whereas the Wald test was used to obtain a P value for a particular regression coefficient.10 For all tests, a 2-tailed significance level of 0.05 was used.
| Results |
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Bivariate Random Coefficient Analysis of Change Scores
Table 2 shows the bivariate regression coefficients, their errors, and significance for time-independent covariates and change scores of time-dependent covariates. Except for age (P=0.046) none of the time-independent covariates was significantly associated with the change scores of FAC. However, all time-dependent covariates were statistically significantly associated with the change scores on FAC. The highest regression coefficient was observed for improvements on the TBT followed by the FM-balance, FM-leg, LCT, time, and MI-leg. Time after onset and LCT showed to be negatively associated with change on FAC.
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Multivariate Random Coefficient Modeling of Significant Time-Dependent Covariates
Table 3 presents the significant covariates of the multivariate random coefficient model. This model includes change scores of the covariates TBT, FM-leg, LCT, MI leg, as well as time itself. This model predicted 18% of the variance of outcome on change of FAC.
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| Discussion |
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Interestingly, the present findings also show that visuospatial inattention was weakly but significantly and negatively related to recovery of gait, suggesting that more reductions in visuospatial inattention, as expressed by the difference in the number of omissions in the LCT, are associated with better improvements in gait. This latter finding is in agreement with the studies that show that patients with visuospatial neglect experience more difficulty in negotiating obstacles21 and walking appropriate trajectories than controls.18
Finally, time itself is an independent fixed determinant in the multivariate model that is significantly negatively associated with recovery of gait, suggesting that most improvements take place sooner after stroke. This finding is in agreement with the general assumption about the speed of neurological (and with that, functional) recovery after stroke (ie, the largest improvements are observed early after stroke onset and these changes subsequently gradually level off).3,6,22 However, in part, gradual smaller change scores over time may have been the result of the availability of a reduced range for changes (ceiling effect).
The major advantage of a repeated measurement design compared with a traditional prognostic design is that it represents reality far better than just 2 measurements over time. Instead of observing 2 images of the patients functional status frozen in time, it becomes feasible to analyze several closely sequential images over time, providing insight into the dynamics of recovery. This, in turn, allows for a more valid interpretation of the factors that modulate the process of spontaneous neurological recovery.
More research is needed for the development of prognostic models based on the within-subject variability of covariates as a function of time for the accuracy of functional change. To understand the impact of time after stroke on recovery, future research should focus on the impact of individual neurological changes of impairments on functional recovery and the significance of using compensatory strategies to improve gait.3,14,20,23 This information can than be used to determine the relationship between recovery of impairments and disabilities, such as gait.3 Recovery of disabilities reflects the intrinsic recovery of impairments as well as applied compensation.3 Understanding the different mechanisms involved as well as the optimal time windows for functional recovery allows clinicians to develop treatment programs that are more effective in maximizing underlying mechanisms responsible for neurological and adaptive (ie, compensatory) recovery.3,5,24
The relatively low regression coefficients observed for the covariates and the low explained variance of
18% for included determinants suggest that most progress cannot be explained by restitution of function. Most likely this progress is facilitated by the use of compensation strategies that involve the participation and adaptation of the nonparetic side to enable gait. This latter finding suggests that recovery after stroke occurs to a large extent through behavioral compensation rather than via processes of "true recovery" alone.5 Future studies may explore the relationship between observed behavioral adaptations and improved skills after stroke by addressing the issue of which changes in motor control coincide with functional improvements. This knowledge may contribute to determining the best way to subject stroke patients to therapeutic exercises.
Finally, modeling change scores in a repeated measurement design (whereby the measures are nested within the subjects) offers also opportunities for the exploration of the longitudinal relationship between, on the one hand, macroscopic neuroplastic changes observed (eg, functional MRI and TMS), and, on the other hand, found changes in neurological and kinematical examination.
| Appendix |
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ß1j (XijtXijt1)+
it (model 1), where Yit are the observations for subject I at time t and Yit1 the observations for subject I at time t1, reflecting the change score for the dependent variable "walking ability" based on FAC registration. Regression coefficient ß0it reflects the random intercept and ß1j the random selected regression coefficient for the time-dependent covariate j and Xijt the time-dependent variable j for subject I at time t and Xijt1 at time t1.
For the bivariate longitudinal regression analysis of time-independent variables, we used the following model: (YitYit1)=ß0it+
ß1m Xim+
it (model 2), where Yit are the observations for subject I at time t and Yit1 the observations for subject I at time t1, reflecting the change score for the dependent variable "walking ability" measured with the FAC. Regression coefficient ß0it is a random intercept and ß1m the regression coefficient of the time-independent covariate m and Xim the time-independent covariate for subject I.
it represents the error for subject I at time t.
To develop a multivariate regression model for predicting functional recovery of gait based on FAC scores, the following statistical model was used: (YitYit1)=ß0it+
ß1j (XijtXijt1)+ß2t+
ß3m Xim+
it (model 3), where Yit are the observations for subject I at time t and Yit1 the observations for subject I at time t1, reflecting the change scores for the dependent variable "walking ability" measured with the FAC. Regression coefficient ß0it is a random intercept and ß1j the random selected regression coefficient for time-dependent variable j and Xijt the time-dependent variable j for subject I at time t and Xijt1 at time t1. ß2 is the regression coefficient for time t and ß3m the regression coefficient for time-independent covariate m and Xim the time-independent covariate. Finally,
it represents the error for subject I at time t.
| Acknowledgments |
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Received July 19, 2005; accepted September 8, 2005.
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