Abstract TP160: Degree of Functional Independence After an Ischemic Stroke Affects Quality of Life Similarly in Men and Women

Abstract

Background: Women have worse quality of life (QoL) after an ischemic stroke (IS) compared with men for unclear reasons. We hypothesized that men and women may value functional independence differently. We assessed the association between sex, functional outcome, and quality of life within a large prospective cohort of ischemic stroke patients. Methods: Within the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky catchment area of 1.3 million we prospectively screened local hospital stroke admission diagnoses in 2005 and 2010. A subset of physician-confirmed IS patients were interviewed at baseline and followed longitudinally. Medical history and stroke-related data were collected through standardized retrospective chart review. Pre-stroke and 3-month modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was assessed, and European Quality of Life (EQ-5D) was administered at 3 months. Multiple regression analysis was used to compare QoL between men and women across mRS categories, adjusted for age, race, baseline mRS, stroke severity history of depression, diabetes, and use of proxy responses. Results: The GCNK follow-up cohorts from 2005 and 2010 included 964 adult IS patients, of which 797 were interviewed at 3 months post stroke. Women comprised 50% of the cohort and were older than men on average (68.4 ± 14.2 vs. 65.2 ± 13, p<.001) years at the time of their stroke. Women had worse functional outcomes (median mRS 3 vs. 2, p=.02) and quality of life (EQ-5D 0.55 vs. 0.65, p=.03), even after adjustment for the covariates listed above. The EQ-5D index was no different in men and women for each point on the mRS spectrum (i.e., there was no interaction between sex and 3-month mRS; Figure). Conclusion: In this cohort study, we confirmed worse functional outcome and worse quality of life in women after stroke. However, at each level on the mRS spectrum, men and women valued their quality of life similarly. Further research is needed on the reasons for worse outcomes in women than men.