Proportion of Non-severe Ischemic Stroke Patients Returning to Work

OBJECTIVE To explore the proportion of non-severe ischemic stroke patients returning to work (RTW) and to examine the association of demographic, clinical, and evaluative information with RTW outcomes. METHODS This observational study included non-severe ischemic stroke patients at the stroke ward, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand between September 2021 and November 2022. Patients included were over 18-year-old, had NIHSS scores not exceeding 14, were currently employed and wanted to RTW. Patients were assessed at the discharged time, 2-week-follow-up, and 3-month-follow-up. Bivariate analysis was conducted using either Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS Sixty-four patients were recruited of whom 4 dropped out, leaving a total of 60. The cumulative proportions of successful RTW patients at the discharged time, 2-week-follow-up, 1-month-follow-up, and 3-month-follow-up were 26.7%, 51.7%, 70%, and 76.7% (95%CI 16.8-38.8, 39.2-64.0, 57.7-80.5, 64.9-86.0), respectively. Most patients could RTW in the first month, then the number plateaued at 3 months. More successful RTW patients included those in cognitive demand occupations, evaluated as normal to minor neurological