Changes in Epidemiological Trends and Rehabilitation Usage in Neurological Diseases in Korea: Stroke

Abstract

Stroke survivors with disabilities have increased in Korea as the population has aged. Early stroke rehabilitation is known to be an essential therapy in gaining functional independence and preventing complications. Recent research on the rehabilitation usage of stroke patients was reviewed in this manuscript. For the past 15 years, it was found that comprehensive rehabilitation assessments have been performed faster in more stroke patients, and intensive inpatient stroke rehabilitation has been applied to more stroke patients at an earlier stroke phase in Korea. In addition, the effect of rehabilitation was maintained. However, few reports have assessed the status of stroke rehabilitation in Korea. Therefore, basic statistical research based on accurate national statistics is needed in the future.

Causes and Trends of Disabilities in Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors: A Population-Based Study

“…Considering the larger decrease in disabilities by a stroke (50.3%) than that by any cause (40.9%), factors alleviating the severity and sequelae of the disease may have contributed to better health outcomes in 2010–2012 (KNHANES V) and beyond. These factors include the improvement of a healthcare system for hyper-acute management and the introduction of the delivery system for early and continuous rehabilitation [ 20 ]. The innovations in stroke treatment and the introduction of intensive stroke units may have affected the decrease in the incidence of disabilities in community-dwelling stroke survivors [ 21 22 23 24 ].…”

“…The RCCVC project in Korea was launched in 2008 with the aim to manage acute stroke patients within 3 hours. The inexpensive and efficient rehabilitation services covered by National Health Insurance system in Korea may also have affected the reduction of the incidence of disabilities in stroke survivors [ 20 25 ]. A previous study reported that transfer time to the rehabilitation department after onset decreased from 44 days in 2007 to 30 days in 2011 [ 26 ].…”

Contributing Factors to the Burden on Primary Family Caregivers of Stroke Survivors in South Korea

“…In Korea, the incidence of stroke is gradually increasing with the aging of the population [3]. Many stroke survivors return to the community with functional impairments after receiving acute treatment and rehabilitation [3,4]. Even after discharge, informal caregivers provide daily living support to stroke survivors according to their level of functional independence [5,6].…”