Use of the Berg Balance Scale to predict independent gait after stroke: a study of an inpatient population in Japan.

OBJECTIVE To examine whether the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score on admission and after 1 month can be used to predict the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) walking level 6 or 7 (modified independent and independent gait respectively) after 3 months and to determine the optimal BBS cut-off score for predicting independent gait among inpatients with first stroke in a rehabilitation facility. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Inpatient rehabilitation facility (Kaifukuki). PARTICIPANTS Two hundred fifty-one consecutive patients with first stroke and nonindependent gait on admission. OUTCOME MEASURES BBS on admission and after 1 month and FIM on admission and after 3 months. RESULTS Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting independent gait after 3 months were 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.88) for BBS score on admission; the optimal cut-off score being ≥13 (63% sensitivity; 90% specificity). Achieving greater cut-off score on admission was significantly associated with subsequent independent gait (odds ratio, 9.7; 95% CI, 4.38-21.36; P < .001). A subanalysis of patients with poor balance on admission (BBS score <13; n = 191) showed area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for predicting independent gait after 3 months of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.95) for BBS scores 1 month after admission. In this subgroup, BBS scores at 1 month of ≥27 were significantly associated with subsequent independent gait (odds ratio, 21.6, 95% CI, 6.40-73.20; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Admission BBS scores predicted FIM walking level 6 or 7, which denotes modified independent or independent gait, after 3 months, the optimal cut-off for BBS scores being ≥13 among inpatients with first stroke in a rehabilitation facility. Patients with poor balance on admission whose BBS scores had improved to ≥27 at 1 month after admission were likely to achieve modified independent or independent gait within 3 months after admission.