Chevalley, OdileOdileChevalleyOpsommer, EmmanuelleEmmanuelleOpsommerTruijen, StevenStevenTruijenEberlé, GrégoireGrégoireEberléLehmann, IsabelleIsabelleLehmannVan Den Keybus Déglon, KatrienKatrienVan Den Keybus DéglonSaeys, WimWimSaeys2026-02-052026-02-052026https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/230927Introduction Identifying factors associated with discharge destination after inpatient stroke rehabilitation is important for patients and healthcare professionals. It supports discharge planning and prevents delayed discharge.Objective To identify key variables from socio-demographic and clinical data associated with returning home after inpatient stroke rehabilitation, focusing on patients from three rehabilitation centers in Belgium and Switzerland.Methods This multicenter retrospective study, conducted in three centers, included 1475 adult patients with stroke admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit between December 2012 and June 2021. A logistic regression with backward selection was used to define the model for discharge destination. The dependent variable was the discharge destination (home vs other). The independent variables were selected from the socio-demographic, medical, neurological, care pathway, and functional data and included age, gender, living arrangement, type of stroke, previous stroke, cognitive impairments, independence in grooming, eating, and stair walking.Results The final model included three variables (independence in stair walking, living arrangement, and cognitive impairment). Stair walking had the strongest association with returning home. Patients who were partially (OR 5.83, 95% CI 3.67-9.26) or fully independent (OR 14.31, 95% CI 9.34-21.93) were more likely to return home than patients who were unable to walk the stairs. The results were similar for subgroups and for discharge and admission data.Conclusion The study showed that independence in walking stairs is strongly associated with discharge destination. Aligned with another study, these results should be confirmed in further research.enPatient dischargeStair climbingStrokeStroke rehabilitation600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48620/944694162368410.33393/aop.2026.3588