Functional Prognosis and Professional Reintegration at 3 Months of Young Patients Victims of a First Episode of Stroke in 2024 in Congo

Introduction: Strokes are a major cause of disability. In working-age individuals, this disability has socioeconomic, occupational, and psychological consequences that can lead to depression and difficulty returning to work, especially in younger individuals. Objective: To identify factors associated with functional recovery and professional reintegration 3 months post-stroke. Methodology: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire over a period of 8 months. Patients aged 18 to 55 years, hospitalized for a first stroke confirmed by brain imaging, were included. The study variables included sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and progression (functional rehabilitation, motor disability, and recovery time during follow-up, return to work, and time to return to work after stroke). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27 software. Results: The mean age of patients was 46.8 ± 6.9 years, with a male predominance (53%). The mean Rankin score was 2 ± 1. One hundred and thirty-two patients had a disability, including 57 (43.2%) in Brazzaville and 75 (56.8%) in Pointe-Noire. The mean time to initiation of functional rehabilitation was 3 days ± 1.8. One hundred and eight (81.8%) patients received functional rehabilitation. Factors associated with functional recovery were: mild-moderate Rankin score (OR = 3; p Conclusion: It is important to encourage and refer patients early to rehabilitation centers to ensure good functional recovery and facilitate professional integration.