Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was first devised to evaluate the cognitive state of psychiatric patients. Recently, MMSE has been used as a simple and fast tool for predicting not only cognitive state of brain damaged patient but also the approximate stage of functional development. For the study of prognotic value of intial MMSE score, we compared the initial MMSE score with MBI (Modified Barthel Index) score at the begining of rehabilitation and at discharge. Also, we analyzed the correlation of the sub-item of MMSE and MBI score at discharge.

The subjects were divided into three groups according to the initial MMSE score, low (19 or less), middle (20 to 25), and high (26 or more).

The major results are as follows:

1) The mean of total MBI Score of low, middle, and high groups at the begining of rehabilitation were 36, 54 and 50 respectively, and there was no statistical difference between three groups.

2) The mean of total MBI score of low, middle, and high groups at discharge weere 63, 87, and 90 respectively, and there were significant differences in low and middle groups and low and high groups.

3) The memory and language sub-items of MMSE were significantly correlated with total MBI score at discharge.

According to the above results, we concluded that the initial MMSE score was correlated well with the functional outcome of the stroke patients, especially memory and language sub-item.