Regression coefficients were zero-corrected to reduce bias (Austin 2008). Variable selection by bootstrapping has been shown to improve estimates of regression coefficients and their Confidence ntervals compared with conventional backwards stepwise selection of predictors (Austin 2008). Performance of the final models was evaluated with adjusted r2 values. The flow of participants through the study is shown in Figure 1. Characteristics Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor of participants are shown in Table 1. Baseline measurements were taken at a median of 6 days (IQR 3 to 11) after stroke. One hundred and sixty-five participants were folflowed
up at a median of 6.1 months (IQR 5.9 to 6.4) after stroke. Folflow-up data were not available from 35 participants: 23 died and 12 declined to be re-assessed or could not be contacted. In addition, joint range measurements were missing for a small number of
participants (1 to 3) due HDAC cancer to fractures and pain at the joints (Table 2). The development of prediction models required complete data sets of both outcomes and candidate predictors. For the prediction analysis, data sets were incomplete for 10 participants for elbow extension and ankle dorsiflexion and for 11 participants for wrist extension due to fractures, pain, poor compliance or inability to folflow complex commands. Incidence proportions of contractures classified by joints are presented in Table 2. Incidence proportions of participants with at least one contracture are presented in next Appendix 1 of the eAddenda. In addition, we explored the incidence proportion of contractures defined in various ways in Appendices 1 to 3 of the eAddenda. Contracture scale: Of 165 participants, 85 had an increase in contracture scale score at one or more joints at six months. Thus 52% (95% CI 44 to 59) developed at least one contracture. The incidence of contractures varied across joints from 12% to 28%. Shoulder and hip joints were most commonly affected. In participants with moderate to severe
strokes (NIHSS > 5), the incidence of contractures was higher. Of 71 participants with moderate to severe strokes, 47 (66%, 95% CI 55 to 76) developed at least one contracture. The incidence of contractures varied across joints from 18% to 38% ( Table 2). Torque-controlled measures: Of 164 participants, 60 (37%; 95% CI 30 to 44) developed at least one contracture in the elbow, wrist, or ankle after stroke, according to the torque-controlled measures. The incidence of contractures was 18% (elbow extension), 18% (wrist extension), and 12% (ankle dorsiflexion) at six months after stroke. In patients with moderate to severe strokes (NIHSS > 5) these estimates increased to 28% (elbow extension), 25% (wrist extension), and 20% (ankle dorsiflexion). In participants with moderate to severe strokes, 35 of 70 participants (50%; 95% CI 39 to 61) developed at least one contracture ( Table 2).