This Article Free upon publication Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kelly-Hayes, M. Articles by Trombly, C. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kelly-Hayes, M. Articles by Trombly, C. A. Related Collections AHA Statements and Guidelines

(Circulation. 1998;97:2474-2478.)
© 1998 American Heart Association, Inc.

AHA Scientific Statement

The American Heart Association Stroke Outcome Classification: Executive Summary

Panel; Margaret Kelly-Hayes, EdD, RN, Cochair; James T. Robertson, MD, Cochair; Joseph P. Broderick, MD; Pamela W. Duncan, PhD, PT; Linda A. Hershey, MD, PhD; Elliot J. Roth, MD; William H. Thies, PhD; ; Catherine A. Trombly, ScD, OT

Key Words: AHA Medical/Scientific Statements • stroke • prognosis • stroke outcome • disability evaluation

Stroke remains one of the major public health problems in the United States today, with approximately 500 000 new or recurrent cases occurring each year.¹ About 4 000 000 persons alive today have survived a stroke and have some neurological deficits. Although the magnitude of healthcare resources used to treat and rehabilitate stroke survivors is considerable, to date a standardized, comprehensive classification system to document the resultant impairments and disability has not been developed.

Successful management of any disabling disease, including stroke, should benefit from the use of a classification system to judge the impact of treatment, particularly emerging therapies. Participants in the Methodologic Issues in Stroke Outcome Symposium² determined that the complex nature of stroke recovery demands clarification of its natural history and classification of the variable patterns of functional recovery. For stroke survivors to receive the best care, a comprehensive stroke outcome classification system is needed to direct appropriate therapeutic interventions.³ Building on the work and recommendations of the Stroke Outcome Symposium, the American Heart Association Classification of Stroke Outcome Task Force has worked to develop a valid and reliable global classification system that accurately summarizes the neurological impairments, disabilities, and handicaps that occur after stroke.

The development of a stroke outcome classification system is predicated on the belief that neurological deficits often lead to permanent impairments, disabilities, and compromised quality of life.^{4 5 6} Although a person's ability to complete daily functional tasks is thought to be largely dependent on and often limited by the type and degree of . . . [Full Text of this Article]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. J. Donovan, D. L. Kendall, S. C. Heaton, S. Kwon, C. A. Velozo, and P. W. Duncan Conceptualizing Functional Cognition in Stroke Neurorehabil Neural Repair, April 1, 2008; 22(2): 122 - 135. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Y. C. Pang, J. J. Eng, and A. S. Dawson Relationship Between Ambulatory Capacity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Chronic Stroke: Influence of Stroke-Specific Impairments Chest, February 1, 2005; 127(2): 495 - 501. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E Harris, J. J Eng, D. S Marigold, C. D Tokuno, and C. L Louis Relationship of Balance and Mobility to Fall Incidence in People With Chronic Stroke Physical Therapy, February 1, 2005; 85(2): 150 - 158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C M. Kim and J. J Eng The Relationship of Lower-Extremity Muscle Torque to Locomotor Performance in People With Stroke Physical Therapy, January 1, 2003; 83(1): 49 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]