Rate of aphasia among stroke patients discharged from hospitals in the United States

ABSTRACT

Background: Estimated rates of post-stroke aphasia range from 18% to 38%. Despite the existence of several studies that have calculated rates of aphasia among stroke survivors, no specific study has emerged that describes the rate of post-stroke aphasia among stroke patients discharged from acute care hospitals in the United States (US).

Aim: To estimate the hospital discharge rate (HDR) of aphasia in stroke patients discharged from acute care hospitals in the US.

Methods & Procedures: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) data (2011–2012) derived from a convenience sample of eight states (Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas) were analyzed to calculate rate of aphasia.

Outcomes & Results: In 2011–2012, among 152,972 adults who were hospitalized for a stroke in the eight representative states, 28,086 (18.4%) were discharged with aphasia. The HDR of aphasia ranged from 14.3% to 24.9% across the eight states over the two-year period. The rate of aphasia was highest among Whites compared to Blacks, Hispanics and Other. Seventy-seven percent of the sample was age 65 and older, 56% was female and Medicare was the primary insurance type. Thirty-six percent of the sample had four or more comorbid conditions and more than half (52%) were discharged to skilled nursing, intermediate care or another type of facility.

Conclusions: The HDR of aphasia observed in this study is on the lower end of rates previously reported in other countries. The declining rate of stroke, the primary underlying cause of aphasia and the methodological approach used to calculate HDR of aphasia in this study, should be taken into consideration in the interpretation of these findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Aphasia
• stroke

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.