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ABSTRACT
The objectives were to describe changes in consciousness, specific mental and perceptual functions, and mobility between days 5 and 10, in patients ≥65 years, still hospitalized after acute stroke, and to identify whether these changes correspond to a clinically meaningful improvement. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Mini-Mental State Examination, Line and Letter Cancellation Tests, Block Test, and Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) were used for assessment 5 and 10 days after stroke in 100 patients. To identify clinically meaningful improvements, an external criterion for self-care, the Barthel Index, was used. Only the GCS and the RMI could be assessed in all patients. Small or no improvements were seen in the tested functions between days 5 and 10 after stroke. Only the RMI showed a clinically meaningful improvement. The RMI was more sensitive to change compared with the other tests and could be recommended to identify improvements among these patients at this time point after stroke onset.