Abstract Background and aims Longitudinal evidence on changes in physical and cognitive function among individuals with chronic stroke remains limited. This study aimed to examine four-year changes in physical and cognitive function in individuals with chronic stroke. Methods This ambispective cohort study included individuals with chronic stroke who had previously participated in a study on the prevalence of sarcopenia in chronic stroke conducted between 2020 and 2022. Data were collected through patient interviews, medical record review, and assessment of stroke severity and functional status. Physical function was evaluated using Functional Ambulation Category (FAC), handgrip strength, the 6-metre usual gait speed test, and the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FxSST). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Outcomes were compared between baseline and four-year follow-up. Results Thirty-five individuals with chronic stroke were included (age 63.5 ± 7.8 years; median time since stroke onset 5.7 years). Over four years, the proportion of individuals able to independently ambulate as defined by FAC 4-5 decreased by 8.6 % (p 0.001), mean gait speed declined by 0.18 m/s (p 0.001), but there were no significant changes in FxSST performance or maximal handgrip strength. No significant changes were observed in cognitive function. Conclusions Chronic stroke survivors demonstrated significant declines in key aspects of physical function, while cognitive function remained relatively stable. Conflict of interest Piyathida Orantanasan, Jittima Saengsuwan, Patpiya Sirasaporn, Charoonsak Somboonporn: nothing to disclose
Orantanasan et al. (Fri,) studied this question.