Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

One-year impacts of stroke on functional independence using repeated measures (139628)

Mulugeta Molla Birhanu 1 2 , Joosup Kim 1 2 , Mikayla Reboe 1 , Lachlan Dalli 1 , Monique Kilkenny 1 , Julie Morrison 2 , Rohan Grimley 3 4 , Dominique Cadilhac 1 2
  1. Medicine , Stroke and Ageing Research, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  2. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Birtinya, QLD, Australia
  4. Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, QLD, Australia

Introduction:

Stroke has lasting impacts on functional outcomes. There are limited data on functional outcomes after stroke from Australian cohorts. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with changes in functional outcomes among adult registrants of the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR).

Methods:

Cohort study among adult AuSCR registrants who completed an outcome survey 3-6 months post-admission and consented to be contacted for research. Participants were surveyed at 12 months post-stroke to assess changes in self-reported modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (i.e., stable, deterioration, or improved based on a change of ≥1 category). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate factors associated with post-stroke mRS change, with adjustment for age, sex, type of stroke and self-reported pre-stroke mRS.

Results:

As of February 2026, 202/214 respondents had mRS status at both timepoints (mean age 74 years, 67% male). The prevalence of moderate to severe disability (mRS 3-5) increased from 28% at 3-6 months to 31% at 12 months. Between 3-6 months and 12 months, 46% reported no difference in mRS, 32% a deterioration, and 22% an improvement. Deterioration in mRS was more common among females than males (43% vs 27%; P=0.023) and in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage than ischaemic stroke (55% vs 30%; P=0.021). After adjustment, female sex remained significantly associated with a deterioration in mRS (risk ratio: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.07-4.23).

Conclusion: Approximately two-thirds of survivors remained stable or improved their self-reported functional outcome between 3-6 months and 12 months. Deterioration was more commonly reported among women.