Introduction: The role of gender in functional independence for activities of daily living after ischemic stroke is still controversial. We aim to a) compare clinical characteristics of men and women at inpatient rehabilitation admission b) compare their functional independence at admission and discharge c) identify predictors of functional independence.

Materials and methods: Retrospective observational cohort study. State-of-the-art variables were used for admission and discharge comparisons and to predict total FIM (Functional Independence Measure) at discharge, FIM gain, FIM efficiency and FIM effectiveness using multivariate linear regressions.

Results: 144 patients (33% women) admitted to inpatient rehabilitation in a Spanish specialized center, with less than 3 weeks since ischemic stroke onset were included. Men were older (p = 0.039), 19.6% of men had diabetes mellitus (6.4% of women) (p = 0.038), with 52.6% of men being non-smokers (72.3% of women) (p = 0.022). No significant differences were observed in FIM at admission, discharge, FIM gain, efficiency or effectiveness (total, motor either cognitive FIM). Regression analysis identified sex (ß = -0.13), stroke severity (ß = -0.25) and admission total FIM (ß = -0.69) as significant predictors of total FIM gain (R2 = 0.42). The same variables predicted discharge total FIM: sex (ß = -0.12), severity (ß = -0.23) and admission total FIM (ß = 0.59) (R2 = 0.51). FIM efficiency was predicted by admission total FIM (ß = -0.64), severity (ß = -0.24), age (ß = -0.17) and length of stay (ß = -0.45) (R2 = 39.9%). FIM effectiveness model explained only 13.5% of the variance.

Conclusions: No functional differences between men and women in any independence measure were found. Sex was a significant predictor but leaving half of the variance unexplained.

Introducción El papel del género en la independencia funcional en las actividades de la vida diaria tras un ictus isquémico es aún controvertido. Proponemos: a) comparar características clínicas de hombres y mujeres en el momento del ingreso a rehabilitación hospitalaria; b) comparar su independencia funcional en el ingreso y en el alta, y c) identificar predictores de independencia funcional.

Materiales y métodos Estudio de cohortes retrospectivo observacional. Se incluyeron variables descritas en estudios previos en comparaciones ingreso-alta y en regresión lineal multivariante de la Functional Independence Measure (FIM) en el momento del alta, la ganancia, la eficiencia y la efectividad.

Resultados Se estudió a 144 pacientes (33%, mujeres) admitidos a rehabilitación en un centro español (= 3 semanas tras un ictus isquémico). Los hombres eran mayores (p = 0,003), un 19,6% diabéticos (un 6,4% de las mujeres; p = 0,03) y un 52,6% fumadores (un 72,3% de las mujeres; p = 0,02). No observamos diferencias significativas en la FIM en el momento del ingreso, del alta, la ganancia, la eficiencia ni la efectividad (FIM total, motora ni cognitiva). El análisis de regresión identificó el sexo (beta = –0,13), la gravedad (beta = –0,25) y la FIM total en el momento el ingreso (beta = –0,69) como predictores de la ganancia de la FIM total (R2 = 0,42). Las mismas variables predicen la FIM total en el alta: género (beta = –0,12), gravedad (beta = –0,23) y FIM total en el ingreso (beta = 0,59) (R2 = 0,51). La FIM en el ingreso (beta = –0,64), la gravedad (beta = –0,24), la edad (beta = –0,17) y el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria (beta = –0,45) predicen la eficiencia de la FIM total (R2 = 39,9). El modelo de efectividad de la FIM explica únicamente el 13,5% de la varianza.

Conclusiones No encontramos diferencias funcionales entre hombres y mujeres. El sexo es un predictor significativo, pero no explica la mitad de la varianza.