Validation of the Berg Balance Scale as a predictor of length of stay and discharge destination in stroke rehabilitation.

Abstract

To validate the utility of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in predicting length of stay (LOS) and discharge destination for patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Prospective study. Provincial tertiary inpatient stroke unit for a primarily geriatric population. A total of 313 of the 325 patients admitted consecutively between April 1998 and August 2000. Not applicable. LOS and discharge destination. Admission BBS scores correlated negatively with LOS (r=-.53, controlling for age). Logistic regression confirmed that the following were independent predictors of being discharged home rather than to an institution (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval): admission BBS (1.09, 1.06-1.12) and the presence of family supports (15.0, 7.2-31.3). These results generally concur with previously published results, obtained at a different stroke rehabilitation setting. This study validates the use of the BBS scores in assisting to estimate approximate LOS and eventual discharge destination. Age did not correlate significantly with the outcomes measured in this study, which was conducted in a geriatric population.