Prevalence of spatial neglect prompts call for screening survivors of right and left brain strokes

In this episode, Dr. Peii Chen, senior research scientist in our Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research, talks about her peer-reviewed article, “Prevalence of spatial neglect post-stroke: A systematic review,” e-published on September 24, 2021, in the journal Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

S1 00:00:04.521 [music] I'm Joan Banks-Smith for Kessler Foundation's Fast Takes, research that changes lives. In this episode, Dr Peii Chen, senior research scientist in our Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research, talks about her peer-reviewed article Prevalence of Spatial Neglect Plus Stroke: A Systematic Review, which was e-published on September 24th, 2021, in the journal, Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Part of this work was supported under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. Dr Chen, can you share with us the main takeaways of this publication?

S2 00:00:44.245 Spatial neglect is prevalent. That is the main message, and the prevalence rate is about 30% after unilateral stroke. It is higher after right-brain stroke, and a little bit lower after left-brain stroke. However, when I say lower after left-brain stroke, it's still 20%, so it's still quite common. We would like to use this article to emphasize the prevalent and the impact of spatial neglect patients who have stroke. And this prevalence rate is, I would say, significantly high. And the clinicians who have not addressed this problem, please start addressing it, at least screen patients for spatial neglect. So that you're aware patient have this problem and start planning what kind of treatment that you can provide.

S1 00:01:37.930 What is the impact and next implications of this publication to the field?

S2 00:01:42.405 This publication not only review articles that provide prevalence rate of spatial neglect, and through the process, we identify different kind of assessment or diagnostic methods, different studies used. We found that ecological or functional assessment to detect diagnosed spatial neglect is preferred, especially in clinical setting, and multitest method is better than single cutoff criterion because spatial neglect is complicated, have different presentation of symptoms. So multiple test is better than single test.

S1 00:02:23.235 To learn more about Dr Chen, her peer-reviewed article, and me, your host, links are in the program notes. Tuned into our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel, Kessler Foundation, for more research updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. This podcast was recorded on May 17th, 2021 remotely, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, creative producer for Kessler Foundation.

Listen to all of our podcasts or by topic breast cancer, expert interview series, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury

© 2020 Kesler Foundation