LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To obtain useful information for clinicians in evaluating patients with brain tumors for transfer to and subsequent care in inpatient rehabilitation facilities. DESIGN Retrospective chart review SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation facility PARTICIPANTS: Adults with either initial or recurrent brain tumors who were admitted to an IRF between January 2017 to December 2018 after an acute hospitalization INTERVENTIONS: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Transfer from IRF to an acute care hospital and mortality within 6 months from admission to IRF RESULTS: Of the 208 patients who met inclusion criteria, 20.2% were transferred to an acute care hospital during the IRF stay, which was associated with prior chemotherapy, steroid use and laterality of tumor. In total, 36.9% of patients with brain tumors died within 6 months of IRF admission which was associated with recurrent tumor diagnosis, prior chemotherapy, prior neurosurgical intervention, prior neurostimulant use, use of steroids, IDH and MGMT biomarkers, laterality and location of tumor. CONCLUSIONS Patients with brain tumors have a notable potential for acute hospital transfer and mortality within 6 months of IRF stay, with several tumor- and treatment-related risk factors. This information can help identify functional goals, identify high risk patients, enable closer clinical monitoring and facilitate focused care discussions while at IRF.