Length of stay in hospital and rehabilitation centers after stroke in Arab countries and Saudi Arabia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Stroke rehabilitation is a vital component of post-stroke care, and the length of stay (LOS) in hospitals and rehabilitation centers varies across healthcare systems. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed LOS among stroke survivors in Arab countries. A comprehensive literature search identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. A comprehensive literature search from the inception until March 2025 identified studies reporting LOS in stroke rehabilitation. A total of 18 publications (25 datasets) involving 12 690 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean LOS was 25.67 days [95% confidence interval (CI): 16.22-35.11]. Subgroup analyses showed a longer LOS in Saudi Arabia (37.03 days, 95% CI: 24.11-49.95) compared to other Arab countries (8.87 days, 95% CI: 4.90-12.84), and in rehabilitation centers (46.71 days, 95% CI: 33.18-60.24) compared to acute hospital settings (9.07 days, 95% CI: 5.27-12.86). LOS varies widely across Arab countries and care settings. These findings highlight the need to examine whether differences in LOS are associated with functional recovery and healthcare efficiency. However, substantial heterogeneity across studies and a lack of outcome data limit the interpretability of the results.