Tertiary analysis of data from a trial of early intensive rehabilitation after stroke suggests that it might increase deaths within the first two weeks of the event, researchers say.

In the Australian-led AVERT trial, more than 2100 patients who had experienced haemorrhagic or ischaemic stroke within the past 24 hours were randomised to either very early mobilisation or to usual care.

In those in the very early mobilisation arm, ward-based nurses and physiotherapists initiated training involving sitting, standing and walking within 24 hours of the stroke, with therapy on five or six days of the week in addition to usual care for up to 14 days or until discharge, if sooner.

The primary results of the trial, published in 2015, had shown worse outcomes for disability scores on the modified Rankin scale at three months in those allocated to very early mobilisation and this led to changes in Australian and some international guidelines.