Application of a continuous nursing model based on medical treatment combination in patients with stroke sequelae.

With the rapid growth of the aging population, the number of individuals diagnosed with cognitive impairment continues to rise. In South Korea, a recent nationwide epidemiological survey estimated a prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among older adults aged 65 and above to be approximately 28.4% []. MCI is characterized by measurable cognitive decline beyond normal aging without significant impairment in daily functioning and is considered a transitional stage toward dementia. In contrast, post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) refers to cognitive deficits occurring after a cerebrovascular event []. In stroke survivors, cognitive impairment affects approximately 30%–70% within the first year post-stroke []. Meta-analytic evidence indicates that around 39%–47% exhibit cognitive deficits specifically between 3 and 6 months post-event []. In a Korean stroke rehabilitation cohort, 31.1% of patients showed cognitive impairment at 6 months []. Unlike MCI, PSCI is often accompanied by functional disability and presents a more heterogeneous cognitive profile depending on lesion location and stroke subtype [].