# Clinical Correlation Analysis of Complications in Elderly Patients with Sequelae of Stroke with Different Barthel Index in Tianjin Emergency Department

Authors: Xingzhen Zheng; Haidong Wang; Xiaolin Bian
Journal: BioMed Research International
 (2021)

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## Abstract

Objective. The Barthel index (BI) is the most commonly used measure of poststroke disability. The purpose of this article is to explore the different complications and severity of the sequelae of elderly stroke patients with different BI in the emergency department, so as to provide a theoretical basis for strengthening the treatment of elderly patients with stroke sequelae. Methods. A retrospective study was adopted, and 1896 patients were divided into two groups according to the BI: 823 patients in the bedridden group (BI≤40points) and 1073 patients in the nonbedridden group (BI>40points). The type and number of complications and APACHE II score were compared between the two groups. Results. Compared with the two groups, pneumonia, renal insufficiency, respiratory failure, and decubitus ulcer in the bedridden group had a higher incidence, but the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and fractures in the nonbedridden group was significantly higher (P<0.05). The APACHE II score of the patients in the bedridden group was higher than that of the nonbedridden group, and they were critical (P<0.001). And the number of complications was higher than that in the nonbedridden group. Moreover, the BI was negatively correlated with the APACHE-II score and the number of complications, and the APACHE II score was positively correlated with the number of complications (P<0.001). Conclusion. Different complications and severity of illness occur in elderly patients with sequelae of stroke after different BI in the emergency department.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Stroke, a general term for acute cerebrovascular disease, is a neurological disease caused by blockage or hemorrhage of the brain [1], mainly including cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, cerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke, characterized by a high disability rate and high mortality rate, has become one of the most important diseases that threaten human life and health in the world today [2]. China has stepped into an aging society. The elderly are a high-risk group for stroke [3, 4]. After treatment, some stroke patients have sequelae such as hemiplegia, aphasia, dysphagia, dementia, convulsions, and other sequelae. Elderly patients are more prone to complications such as infection, acute cardiovascular disease, restroke, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, malnutrition, and fractures [5, 6]. These sequelae seriously affect the quality of life of patients; bring a huge burden on the country, families, and patients [7]; and are also the main reason for emergency medical treatment. Once multiple complications appear, patients with sequelae of stroke have complicated and critical conditions, difficult treatment, and higher cost and mortality rate [8]. Investigating the types, number, and serious conditions of sequelae can help patients better prevent the sequelae caused by stroke. Understanding various sequelae can contribute to purposefully improve treatment and nursing methods and provide patients with more specific rehabilitation programs and health education after discharge from the hospital. Six months after the onset of ischemic stroke, the patient’s functional life status and different Barthel index (BI) are closely related to long-term survival [9, 10]. The BI is a measurement method commonly used in the international rehabilitation medicine community to judge the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatment. It is an assessment of the ability of daily life activities. A higher BI index indicates a stronger life self-care ability [11]. Taghizadeh et al. [12] used BI to study the psychometric characteristics of patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease during the drug treatment stage. After the onset of stroke, the patient’s dependence on life increases, and his ability to take care of himself is significantly reduced. Therefore, the BI has been widely used to investigate the activity of daily living in stroke patients [13, 14]. In this study, a retrospective study was employed to explore the different complications and severity of the sequelae of elderly stroke patients with different BI admitted to the emergency department of Tianjin Nankai Hospital, in order to provide a theoretical basis for strengthening the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with sequelae of stroke.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. General Information

The 1896 elderly patients with stroke all came from the emergency department of Tianjin Nankai Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) patientsaged≥65years were included. (2) When the stroke first occurs, it must be checked at least by the head CT or head magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the diagnosis. The diagnosis was in accordance with the diagnostic criteria of stroke revised by the Fourth National Cerebrovascular Disease Conference, including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. (3) Complications occurred after the treatment for stroke and the complications occurred more than 6 months. The exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) The patient’s age is less than 60 years old. (2) Acute and subacute stroke patients and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients were excluded. (3) The patients who refuse laboratory and imaging examinations were excluded. This study was approved by the Tianjin Nankai hospital ethics committee.


### 2.2. Method

All patients should be attended by an attending physician at least once they arrive for detailed medical records and evaluation of the BI assessment of the activities of daily living in patients who have developed complications for up to six months after stroke. All patients underwent relevant laboratory examinations and imaging examinations. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score was originally developed to predict patient mortality in intensive care units [15]. But in recent years, APACHE II has also been used to assess the severity and prognosis of acute cerebral hemorrhage [16]. Therefore, we used the APACHE II score to perform the severity of the disease. According to the medical history and objective examination, the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was used as the standard for disease diagnosis and classification.According to the BI, the patients were divided into 2 groups—bedridden group:BI≤40 points, most of the daily activities of the patient cannot be completed or require others to serve, and they cannot go to the ground; nonbedridden group: BI>40 points, patients in daily life need help or basic self-care, independent or with the help of others can go to the ground.


### 2.3. Diagnostic Criteria

The diagnostic criteria are as follows—hypokalemia: serumpotassium < 3.5 mmol/L; hyperkalemia: serumpotassium > 5.5 mmol/L; hyponatremia: serumsodium < 135 mmol/L; hypernatremia: serumsodium > 145 mmol/L; hypoproteinemia: serumalbumin < 3.5 g/dL; and hypertension: uncontrolled blood pressure at least >180/90 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), and antihypertensive drug intervention was required.


### 2.4. Statistical Methods

The SPSS22.0 statistical software was applied. The measurement data is expressed asmean±standarddeviation (SD). The age and sequelae of the two groups of patients are subjected to t-test of group design data. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate the sex ratio, past history of stroke, neurological deficit symptoms, and complications in the two groups. The APACHE II score and the number of complications in the two groups were skewed distribution data, and the comparison between the two groups was determined by the rank-sum test. The correlation was analyzed by the Spearman test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.


## 2.1. General Information

The 1896 elderly patients with stroke all came from the emergency department of Tianjin Nankai Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. The inclusion criteria are as follows: (1) patientsaged≥65years were included. (2) When the stroke first occurs, it must be checked at least by the head CT or head magnetic resonance imaging to confirm the diagnosis. The diagnosis was in accordance with the diagnostic criteria of stroke revised by the Fourth National Cerebrovascular Disease Conference, including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or both ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. (3) Complications occurred after the treatment for stroke and the complications occurred more than 6 months. The exclusion criteria are as follows: (1) The patient’s age is less than 60 years old. (2) Acute and subacute stroke patients and transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients were excluded. (3) The patients who refuse laboratory and imaging examinations were excluded. This study was approved by the Tianjin Nankai hospital ethics committee.


## 2.2. Method

All patients should be attended by an attending physician at least once they arrive for detailed medical records and evaluation of the BI assessment of the activities of daily living in patients who have developed complications for up to six months after stroke. All patients underwent relevant laboratory examinations and imaging examinations. The acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score was originally developed to predict patient mortality in intensive care units [15]. But in recent years, APACHE II has also been used to assess the severity and prognosis of acute cerebral hemorrhage [16]. Therefore, we used the APACHE II score to perform the severity of the disease. According to the medical history and objective examination, the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was used as the standard for disease diagnosis and classification.According to the BI, the patients were divided into 2 groups—bedridden group:BI≤40 points, most of the daily activities of the patient cannot be completed or require others to serve, and they cannot go to the ground; nonbedridden group: BI>40 points, patients in daily life need help or basic self-care, independent or with the help of others can go to the ground.


## 2.3. Diagnostic Criteria

The diagnostic criteria are as follows—hypokalemia: serumpotassium < 3.5 mmol/L; hyperkalemia: serumpotassium > 5.5 mmol/L; hyponatremia: serumsodium < 135 mmol/L; hypernatremia: serumsodium > 145 mmol/L; hypoproteinemia: serumalbumin < 3.5 g/dL; and hypertension: uncontrolled blood pressure at least >180/90 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), and antihypertensive drug intervention was required.


## 2.4. Statistical Methods

The SPSS22.0 statistical software was applied. The measurement data is expressed asmean±standarddeviation (SD). The age and sequelae of the two groups of patients are subjected to t-test of group design data. Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to calculate the sex ratio, past history of stroke, neurological deficit symptoms, and complications in the two groups. The APACHE II score and the number of complications in the two groups were skewed distribution data, and the comparison between the two groups was determined by the rank-sum test. The correlation was analyzed by the Spearman test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. General Patient Information Results

A total of 1896 patients were collected in this study. There were 823 cases in the bedridden group, including 475 males and 348 females, aged 60 to 93 years, with an average age of77.52±8.37 years. The sequelae period was 6 months to 6 years, with an average of 4.72±3.65 years. Among them, 680 cases had sequelae of previous ischemic stroke, 95 cases had sequelae of hemorrhagic stroke, and 48 cases had sequelae of ischemia with hemorrhagic stroke. There were 1073 cases in the non-bedridden group, including 657 males and 416 females, aged 60 to 91 years, with an average age of 76.68±6.72 years. The sequelae ranged from 6 months to 26 years, with an average of 5.01±4.05 years. Among them, 905 cases had sequelae of previous ischemic stroke, 117 cases had sequelae of hemorrhagic stroke, and 51 cases had sequelae of ischemia with hemorrhagic stroke. There was no significant difference in gender, age, sequelae, and stroke history between the two groups (all P>0.05), which was comparable. The basic information of the patients was shown in Table 1.Table 1
Comparison of general information between the two groups.
GroupMaleFemaleAge (years)Sequelae (years)ISHSIHSBedridden group47534877.52±8.374.72±3.656809548Nonbedridden group65741676.68±6.725.01±4.0590511751t or χ2χ2=316t=0.618t=1.256χ2=0.163P0.5740.5380.1200.922Values aremean±standarddeviation (SD). IS: ischemic stroke; HS: hemorrhagic stroke; IHS: ischemic with hemorrhagic stroke.


### 3.2. Results of Dysfunction Symptoms in the Two Groups of Patients with Sequelae of Stroke

The main symptoms of dysfunction in the two groups of stroke sequelae were limb dyskinesia, speech disorder, dementia, dysphagia, and neurological bladder dysfunction. Patients in the bedridden group were more likely to suffer from multiple neurological deficits than those in the non-bedridden group (P<0.01). 104 bedridden patients (100%) and 98 of 147 non-bedridden patients (66.7%) have symptoms of limb dyskinesia. The incidence of the other four sequelae was less than 40%, indicating that patients are more likely to leave the symptoms of limb dyskinesia after stroke (Table 2).Table 2
Comparison of major dysfunction symptoms between two groups of patients with sequelae of stroke.
Dysfunction symptomsBedridden group (n=104)Nonbedridden group (n=147)χ2PLimb dyskinesia (%)104 (100.0)98 (66.7)43.076≤0.001Speech disorder (%)39 (37.5)27 (18.4)11.5040.001Dementia (%)35 (33.7)20 (13.6)14.308≤0.001Dysphagia (%)30 (28.8)17 (11.6)11.9530.001Neurological bladder dysfunction (%)20 (19.2)5 (3.4)17.018≤0.001Values aren (%). P<0.05, with statistical significance.


### 3.3. Results of Complications in the Two Groups of Patients with Sequelae of Stroke

The complications of the two groups of patients were as follows: 75 cases of pneumonia; 54 cases of hyponatremia; 44 cases of hypoproteinemia; 42 cases of hypokalemia; 28 cases of cardiac insufficiency; 26 cases of uncontrolled hypertension and recurrent cerebral infarction; 24 cases of renal insufficiency; 20 cases each of acute coronary syndrome, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and anemia; 16 cases of digestive system infection; 12 cases of status epilepticus; 12 cases of cerebral hemorrhage; 10 cases of respiratory failure; 8 cases of fractures and urinary system infection; 6 cases of hypernatremia, hypertonic hyperglycemia syndrome, and bedsore; 5 cases of pleural effusion and arrhythmia; 2 cases of hypoglycemia; and 1 case of drug poisoning. Both pneumonia and hyponatremia have relatively high incidences in stroke patients (including the bedridden and non-bedridden groups). Compared with the two groups, the patients in the bedridden group are more likely to have pneumonia (P<0.01). In addition, compared with the non-bedridden group, the symptoms of consciousness disturbance, renal insufficiency, respiratory failure, and decubitus ulcers were higher in the bedridden group (P<0.01), with extremely significant differences. Compared with the bedridden group, the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and fractures in the non-bedridden group was significantly higher (P<0.01). The other complications were not statistically significant between the two groups, as shown in Table 3.Table 3
Comparison of complications between two groups of patients with sequelae of stroke.
ComplicationBedridden group (n=104)Nonbedridden group (n=147)Sum (n=251)χ2PPneumonia (%)43 (41.34)32 (21.76)75 (29.88)11.1420.001aHyponatremia (%)28 (26.92)26 (16.69)54 (21.51)3.0770.079Hypoproteinemia (%)24 (23.07)20 (13.60)44 (17.52)3.7800.052Hypokalemia (%)18 (19.31)24 (16.33)42 (16.73)0.0420.837Disturbance of consciousness (%)28 (26.92)10 (6.80)38 (15.14)19.193≤0.001aCardiac insufficiency (%)16 (15.38)12 (8.16)28 (11.16)3.2500.073Uncontrolled hypertension (%)12 (11.54)14 (9.52)26 (10.36)0.2660.606Recurrent cerebral infarction (%)14 (13.46)12 (8.16)12 (8.16)1.8410.175Renal insufficiency (%)16 (15.38)8 (5.44)24 (9.56)6.9630.008aAcute coronary syndrome (%)8 (7.69)12 (8.16)20 (7.97)0.0180.892Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (%)4 (3.85)16 (10.88)20 (7.97)4.1140.043aAnemia (%)8 (7.69)12 (8.16)20 (7.97)0.0180.892Digestive system infection (%)4 (3.85)12 (8.16)16 (6.37)1.9020.168Status epilepticus (%)2 (1.92)10 (6.80)12 (4.78)0.075Cerebral hemorrhage (%)8 (7.69)4 (2.72)12 (4.78)0.070Respiratory failure (%)8 (7.69)2 (1.36)10 (3.98)0.012aFracture (%)0 (0.00)8 (5.44)8 (3.19)0.016aUrinary system infection (%)6 (5.77)2 (1.36)8 (3.19)0.069Hypernatremia (%)5 (4.8)1 (0.68)6 (2.39)0.085Hypertonic hyperglycemia syndrome (%)4 (3.85)2 (1.36)6 (2.39)0.236Bedsores (%)6 (5.77)0 (0.00)6 (2.39)0.005aArrhythmia (%)2 (1.92)3 (2.04)5 (1.99)1Pleural effusion (%)4 (3.85)1 (0.00)5 (1.99)0.163Hypoglycemia (%)2 (1.92)0 (0.00)2 (0.79)0.171Drug poisoning (%)0 (0)1 (0.68)1 (0.4)1Values aren (%). aP<0.05, which has statistical significance.


### 3.4. Results of the APACHE II Score and the Number of Complications in the Two Groups of Patients

The results of the APACHE II score and the number of complications in the two groups revealed that the APACHE II score in the bedridden group was higher than that in the non-bedridden group, and the condition was critical (Z=−6.052, P<0.001). The number of complications was higher than that in the non-bedridden group (Z=−3.981, P<0.001), as presented in Table 4. The structural ratio of three or more complications in the bedridden group was 50%, while in the nonbedridden group was 20%, without more than five complications.Table 4
Comparison of APACHE II score and number of complications between the two groups.
GroupBarthel indexAPACHE II scoreNumber of complicationsBedridden group (n=823)10.40±7.6212.33±8.062.80±1.74Nonbedridden group (n=1073)69.18±11.846.25±2.941.68±1.06Z-6.052-3.981P0.0000.001Values aremean±standarddeviation (SD).


## 3.1. General Patient Information Results

A total of 1896 patients were collected in this study. There were 823 cases in the bedridden group, including 475 males and 348 females, aged 60 to 93 years, with an average age of77.52±8.37 years. The sequelae period was 6 months to 6 years, with an average of 4.72±3.65 years. Among them, 680 cases had sequelae of previous ischemic stroke, 95 cases had sequelae of hemorrhagic stroke, and 48 cases had sequelae of ischemia with hemorrhagic stroke. There were 1073 cases in the non-bedridden group, including 657 males and 416 females, aged 60 to 91 years, with an average age of 76.68±6.72 years. The sequelae ranged from 6 months to 26 years, with an average of 5.01±4.05 years. Among them, 905 cases had sequelae of previous ischemic stroke, 117 cases had sequelae of hemorrhagic stroke, and 51 cases had sequelae of ischemia with hemorrhagic stroke. There was no significant difference in gender, age, sequelae, and stroke history between the two groups (all P>0.05), which was comparable. The basic information of the patients was shown in Table 1.Table 1
Comparison of general information between the two groups.
GroupMaleFemaleAge (years)Sequelae (years)ISHSIHSBedridden group47534877.52±8.374.72±3.656809548Nonbedridden group65741676.68±6.725.01±4.0590511751t or χ2χ2=316t=0.618t=1.256χ2=0.163P0.5740.5380.1200.922Values aremean±standarddeviation (SD). IS: ischemic stroke; HS: hemorrhagic stroke; IHS: ischemic with hemorrhagic stroke.


## 3.2. Results of Dysfunction Symptoms in the Two Groups of Patients with Sequelae of Stroke

The main symptoms of dysfunction in the two groups of stroke sequelae were limb dyskinesia, speech disorder, dementia, dysphagia, and neurological bladder dysfunction. Patients in the bedridden group were more likely to suffer from multiple neurological deficits than those in the non-bedridden group (P<0.01). 104 bedridden patients (100%) and 98 of 147 non-bedridden patients (66.7%) have symptoms of limb dyskinesia. The incidence of the other four sequelae was less than 40%, indicating that patients are more likely to leave the symptoms of limb dyskinesia after stroke (Table 2).Table 2
Comparison of major dysfunction symptoms between two groups of patients with sequelae of stroke.
Dysfunction symptomsBedridden group (n=104)Nonbedridden group (n=147)χ2PLimb dyskinesia (%)104 (100.0)98 (66.7)43.076≤0.001Speech disorder (%)39 (37.5)27 (18.4)11.5040.001Dementia (%)35 (33.7)20 (13.6)14.308≤0.001Dysphagia (%)30 (28.8)17 (11.6)11.9530.001Neurological bladder dysfunction (%)20 (19.2)5 (3.4)17.018≤0.001Values aren (%). P<0.05, with statistical significance.


## 3.3. Results of Complications in the Two Groups of Patients with Sequelae of Stroke

The complications of the two groups of patients were as follows: 75 cases of pneumonia; 54 cases of hyponatremia; 44 cases of hypoproteinemia; 42 cases of hypokalemia; 28 cases of cardiac insufficiency; 26 cases of uncontrolled hypertension and recurrent cerebral infarction; 24 cases of renal insufficiency; 20 cases each of acute coronary syndrome, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and anemia; 16 cases of digestive system infection; 12 cases of status epilepticus; 12 cases of cerebral hemorrhage; 10 cases of respiratory failure; 8 cases of fractures and urinary system infection; 6 cases of hypernatremia, hypertonic hyperglycemia syndrome, and bedsore; 5 cases of pleural effusion and arrhythmia; 2 cases of hypoglycemia; and 1 case of drug poisoning. Both pneumonia and hyponatremia have relatively high incidences in stroke patients (including the bedridden and non-bedridden groups). Compared with the two groups, the patients in the bedridden group are more likely to have pneumonia (P<0.01). In addition, compared with the non-bedridden group, the symptoms of consciousness disturbance, renal insufficiency, respiratory failure, and decubitus ulcers were higher in the bedridden group (P<0.01), with extremely significant differences. Compared with the bedridden group, the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and fractures in the non-bedridden group was significantly higher (P<0.01). The other complications were not statistically significant between the two groups, as shown in Table 3.Table 3
Comparison of complications between two groups of patients with sequelae of stroke.
ComplicationBedridden group (n=104)Nonbedridden group (n=147)Sum (n=251)χ2PPneumonia (%)43 (41.34)32 (21.76)75 (29.88)11.1420.001aHyponatremia (%)28 (26.92)26 (16.69)54 (21.51)3.0770.079Hypoproteinemia (%)24 (23.07)20 (13.60)44 (17.52)3.7800.052Hypokalemia (%)18 (19.31)24 (16.33)42 (16.73)0.0420.837Disturbance of consciousness (%)28 (26.92)10 (6.80)38 (15.14)19.193≤0.001aCardiac insufficiency (%)16 (15.38)12 (8.16)28 (11.16)3.2500.073Uncontrolled hypertension (%)12 (11.54)14 (9.52)26 (10.36)0.2660.606Recurrent cerebral infarction (%)14 (13.46)12 (8.16)12 (8.16)1.8410.175Renal insufficiency (%)16 (15.38)8 (5.44)24 (9.56)6.9630.008aAcute coronary syndrome (%)8 (7.69)12 (8.16)20 (7.97)0.0180.892Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (%)4 (3.85)16 (10.88)20 (7.97)4.1140.043aAnemia (%)8 (7.69)12 (8.16)20 (7.97)0.0180.892Digestive system infection (%)4 (3.85)12 (8.16)16 (6.37)1.9020.168Status epilepticus (%)2 (1.92)10 (6.80)12 (4.78)0.075Cerebral hemorrhage (%)8 (7.69)4 (2.72)12 (4.78)0.070Respiratory failure (%)8 (7.69)2 (1.36)10 (3.98)0.012aFracture (%)0 (0.00)8 (5.44)8 (3.19)0.016aUrinary system infection (%)6 (5.77)2 (1.36)8 (3.19)0.069Hypernatremia (%)5 (4.8)1 (0.68)6 (2.39)0.085Hypertonic hyperglycemia syndrome (%)4 (3.85)2 (1.36)6 (2.39)0.236Bedsores (%)6 (5.77)0 (0.00)6 (2.39)0.005aArrhythmia (%)2 (1.92)3 (2.04)5 (1.99)1Pleural effusion (%)4 (3.85)1 (0.00)5 (1.99)0.163Hypoglycemia (%)2 (1.92)0 (0.00)2 (0.79)0.171Drug poisoning (%)0 (0)1 (0.68)1 (0.4)1Values aren (%). aP<0.05, which has statistical significance.


## 3.4. Results of the APACHE II Score and the Number of Complications in the Two Groups of Patients

The results of the APACHE II score and the number of complications in the two groups revealed that the APACHE II score in the bedridden group was higher than that in the non-bedridden group, and the condition was critical (Z=−6.052, P<0.001). The number of complications was higher than that in the non-bedridden group (Z=−3.981, P<0.001), as presented in Table 4. The structural ratio of three or more complications in the bedridden group was 50%, while in the nonbedridden group was 20%, without more than five complications.Table 4
Comparison of APACHE II score and number of complications between the two groups.
GroupBarthel indexAPACHE II scoreNumber of complicationsBedridden group (n=823)10.40±7.6212.33±8.062.80±1.74Nonbedridden group (n=1073)69.18±11.846.25±2.941.68±1.06Z-6.052-3.981P0.0000.001Values aremean±standarddeviation (SD).


## 4. Discussion

Stroke is a common cardiovascular disease in the elderly, characterized by high morbidity, mortality, disability, recurrence, and complications [17]. The common complications in patients with poststroke sequelae are mainly pneumonia, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and acute cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that pneumonia is the major complication in both acute stroke and the poststroke period, and it affects the patient’s prognosis and increases the number of hospitalizations [18–20]. Pneumonia, acute cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary embolism are the main causes of death in patients with poststroke sequelae [21]. Poststroke pneumonia is mainly associated with poststroke-induced immunosuppression, dysphagia, impaired consciousness, advanced age, male, severity of neurological deficit, and type of stroke [22]. Ponomarev et al. [6] reported that the relative risk of infection in patients with more disease and poor quality of life was 14 times higher than that in relatively healthy patients. In the present study, we found that the incidence of pneumonia was significantly higher in the bedridden group with a low BI (41.34%) than that in the nonbedridden group (21.76%). And pneumonia was at the top of the list of complications in elderly patients with poststroke sequelae in the emergency department, accounting for 29.88% of the total, which was close to the 31.5% rate of associated pneumonia in elderly stroke patients reported by Huimin [23] in China. As described above for multiple reasons, the bedridden group was prone to pneumonia, and the worsening of pneumonia was prone to respiratory failure and high mortality rate; thus, patients needed to be closely monitored for respiratory disease.In a further analysis of complication rates, renal insufficiency, respiratory failure, and the incidence of bedsores were significantly higher in the bedridden group than in the nonbedridden group, while patients in the nonbedridden group were more prone to upper gastrointestinal bleeding and fractures.Chen et al. [5] demonstrated that upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage during the rehabilitation period in patients with stroke mainly occurred in elderly patients over 65 years old. In this study, it was found that elderly patients over 60 years of age in the nonbedridden group were more prone to upper gastrointestinal bleeding (10.88%). The number of cases in the bedridden group was relatively low (3.85%), which may be related to the long-term oral administration of aspirin [24]. In the current study, 53 patients in the nonbedridden group and only 7 patients in the nonbedridden group took oral administration of aspirin. Of the 16 patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the nonbedridden group, 14 were taking aspirin orally, and the other 2 had a history of peptic ulcer and bleeding.Fractures have a higher incidence in the nonbedridden group (5.44%), mainly related to falls and osteoporosis in elderly patients with sequelae of stroke, especially those with residual limb dysfunction, and are commonly seen in the lower limb fractures [25]. The 8 patients with fractures in the nonbedridden group in this study were all femoral neck fractures. Once a patient has a fracture, it is easier to stay in bed for a long time, and there are many complications. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the rehabilitation of patients with sequelae of stroke and improve their living ability.Malnutrition in clinical patients is mainly related to starvation, acute diseases or acute injuries, and chronic diseases [26]. In this study, both groups of patients developed low protein, low sodium, and low potassium, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups. It was suggested that different BI did not affect the nutritional status of patients, and it was mainly related to chronic diseases and underlying diseases. However, malnutrition is a risk factor for multiple complications. Hypoproteinemia, a risk factor for pulmonary infection, is exacerbated after the infection occurs [27]. Hyponatremia is a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome and stroke [28, 29]. Hypokalemia can give rise to arrhythmia or even sudden death [30]. Therefore, the treatment of chronic underlying diseases and the improvement of nutritional status are the basis for the treatment of patients with sequelae of stroke, thereby reducing the occurrence of complications.In addition, the bedridden group with a low BI had more symptoms of residual neurological deficit and was prone to consciousness impairment, higher APACHE II scores, and a higher number of complications compared to the nonbedridden group with a relatively high BI. The main factors that affect the Barthel score include age, modified Rankin score, systolic blood pressure, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and stroke severity [31]. Hence, early rehabilitation treatment can improve the life status of elderly patients with sequelae of stroke, reduce complications, and improve the patient’s condition.Other comorbidities of stroke sequelae include recurrent cerebral infarction, anemia, digestive system infection, status epilepticus, cerebral hemorrhage, hypernatremia, hyperosmolar hyperglycemia syndrome, urinary tract infection, etc., although the comparison of the two groups was not statistically significant. The possible reasons are as follows: (1) Different BI does not affect patients’ complications at all. (2) The number of samples in this study is too small, so the sample needs to be expanded for further research.


## 5. Conclusion

In conclusion, we demonstrated that different BI of complications and severity of disease occur in elderly patients with poststroke sequelae, which provides a theoretical basis for enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with poststroke sequelae.



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