Doha: Qatar has reported a low rate of stroke cases per year compared to other countries and majority of survivors have regained their functional ability as a result of an efficient rehabilitation programme, said a senior official yesterday.
Qatar has reported low incidence of stroke with 58 per 100,000 people annually. The structured stroke rehabilitation service at the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute (QRI) has helped majority of patients regain independence and improve quality, according to Chairperson of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr. Rafat Mohammed Abdullah Saad.
“South Asian migrants in Qatar suffer from strokes at younger age than Qatari natives. Most common risk factors for stroke incidence in Qatar are hypertension (77.9%), diabetes (77.9%) and hypercholesterolemia (28.5%),” he said, while speaking at a webinar on ‘Stroke Rehabilitation in Qatar.’
“At QRI, the stroke rehabilitation programme is aimed at prevention of stroke in future, management, compensation, maintenance and reintegration into the society. Effective rehabilitation interventions initiated early after stroke has enhanced the recovery process and minimised functional disability in stroke survivors,” he said.
The QRI provides a range of world-class integrated rehabilitation services and the most technologically advanced patient centred care for patients with stroke from early stages until community reintegration. The sate-of-the-art rehab service is delivered using rehab robotics, cognitive rehabilitation and psychological approaches by a multidisciplinary team.
In 2019, some 375 patients were admitted at QRI for stroke rehabilitation. Among them 350 were discharged and their average length of stay was 35 days.
Between January and October this year, 575 patients were admitted to QRI for stroke rehabilitation. Among them, 550 were discharged and their average hospital stay was 29 days.
“We usually take patients for rehabilitation within three days after the stroke. The rehabilitation process is very effective when we take patients at an acute stage,” said Dr. Saad.
The combination of conventional physiotherapy with adjunct treatments such as robot-assisted gait training and aquatic therapy contribute to better and faster patient outcomes and culminate into a shorter ‘length of stay’ in QRI for patients.
“The structured rehabilitation stroke programme helps to enhance functional abilities, review care needs, social circumstances, intervention if needed, management of risk including needs of vulnerable adults, follow up plans,” said Dr. Saad.
“Stroke patients have access to advanced facilities at QRI, which include hydrotherapy pools, advanced gyms, a specialist sensory room, and an Assisted Living Unit in which patients can relearn simple daily tasks and readjust to life at home,” he said.
For individuals whose recovery is considered to be slow or prolonged, QRI provides low intensity, high frequency interdisciplinary therapy for 2-3 hours per patient per day. The institute also provides, inpatient rehabilitation, day care rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, community rehabilitation, functional robotic rehabilitation, cognitive rehabilitation and mobile rehabilitation services, according to the condition of the stroke survivor.
The Stroke Rehabilitation in Qatar webinar was held as part of the WISH — Doha Healthcare Week (DHW) taking place from November 8 to 14. DHW is being held ahead of the World Innovation Summit 2020, which will begin next week.