Predictors of Poststroke Aphasia Recovery
The REhabilitation and recovery of peopLE with Aphasia after StrokE (RELEASE) Collaborators, Myzoon Ali, Kathryn VandenBerg, Linda Williams, Louise R. Williams, Masahiro Abo, Frank Becker, Audrey Bowen, Caitlin Brandenburg, Caterina Breitenstein, Stefanie Bruehl, David A. Copland, Tamara Cranfill, Marie di Pietro-Bachmann, Pam Enderby, Joanne Fillingham, Federica Galli, Marialuisa Gandolfi, Bertrand Glize, Erin Godecke, Neil Hawkins, Katerina Hilari, Jacqueline Hinckley, Simon Horton, David Howard, Petra Jaecks, Elizabeth Jefferies, Luís M. T. Jesus, Maria Kambanaros, Eun Kyoung Kang, Eman M. Khedr, Anthony Pak‐Hin Kong, Tarja Kukkonen, Marina Laganaro, Matthew A. Lambon Ralph, Ann Charlotte Laska, Béatrice Leemann, Alexander Leff, Roxele Ribeiro Lima, Antje Lorenz, Brian Mac Whinney, Rebecca Shisler Marshall, Flavia Mattioli, İlknur Maviş, Marcus Meinzer, Reza Nilipour, Enrique Noé, Nam‐Jong Paik, Rebecca Palmer, Ilias Papathanasiou, Brigida F Patricio, Isabel Pavão Martins, Cathy J. Price, Tatjana Prizl Jakovac, Elizabeth Rochon, Miranda L Rose, Charlotte Rosso, Ilona Rubi‐Fessen, Marina B. Ruiter, Claerwen Snell, Benjamin Stahl, Jerzy P. Szaflarski, Shirley Thomas, Mieke van de Sandt‐Koenderman, Ineke van der Meulen, Evy Visch‐Brink, Linda Worrall, Heather Harris Wright, Marian Brady
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The factors associated with recovery of language domains after stroke remain uncertain. We described recovery of overall-language-ability, auditory comprehension, naming, and functional-communication across participants' age, sex, and aphasia chronicity in a large, multilingual, international aphasia dataset. METHODS: Individual participant data meta-analysis of systematically sourced aphasia datasets described overall-language ability using the Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia-Quotient; auditory comprehension by Aachen Aphasia Test (AAT) Token Test; naming by Boston Naming Test and functional-communication by AAT Spontaneous-Speech Communication subscale. Multivariable analyses regressed absolute score-changes from baseline across language domains onto covariates identified a priori in randomized controlled trials and all study types. Change-from-baseline scores were presented as estimates of means and 95% CIs. Heterogeneity was described using relative variance. Risk of bias was considered at dataset and meta-analysis level. RESULTS: Assessments at baseline (median=43.6 weeks poststroke; interquartile range [4-165.1]) and first-follow-up (median=10 weeks from baseline; interquartile range [3-26]) were available for n=943 on overall-language ability, n=1056 on auditory comprehension, n=791 on naming and n=974 on functional-communication. Younger age (<55 years, +15.4 Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia-Quotient points [CI, 10.0-20.9], +6.1 correct on AAT Token Test [CI, 3.2-8.9]; +9.3 Boston Naming Test points [CI, 4.7-13.9]; +0.8 AAT Spontaneous-Speech Communication subscale points [CI, 0.5-1.0]) and enrollment <1 month post-onset (+19.1 Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia-Quotient points [CI, 13.9-24.4]; +5.3 correct on AAT Token Test [CI, 1.7-8.8]; +11.1 Boston Naming Test points [CI, 5.7-16.5]; and +1.1 AAT Spontaneous-Speech Communication subscale point [CI, 0.7-1.4]) conferred the greatest absolute change-from-baseline across each language domain. Improvements in language scores from baseline diminished with increasing age and aphasia chronicity. Data exhibited no significant statistical heterogeneity. Risk-of-bias was low to moderate-low. CONCLUSIONS: Earlier intervention for poststroke aphasia was crucial to maximize language recovery across a range of language domains, although recovery continued to be observed to a lesser extent beyond 6 months poststroke.