Stroke patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation are more likely to land back in the hospital within three months if they are functioning poorly, show signs of depression and lack social support, according to a study.

The researchers said their findings are timely because Medicare will hold hospitals accountable for high short-turnaround readmission rates beginning in October.

"Though we intuitively know that these patients are at highest risk for being rehospitalized — especially if they are depressed, isolated or lack independence — the data to support this did not exist prior to our study," said Kenneth Ottenbacher, PhD, of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. •