The health-related quality of life in stroke survivors: clinical, functional, and psychosocial correlate

Abstract

AimThe aims of this study were to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in stroke survivors attending an outpatient rehabilitation clinic and to examine the relation between some clinical variables and HRQOL.Participants and methodsSixty-four stroke survivors were enrolled. Demographic data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. The functional level of the patients was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI). HRQOL was measured by the short-form 36 (SF-36) and the stroke-specific quality-of-life (SSQOL) scale.ResultsOur patients’ ages ranged from 42 to 95 years (mean 60.81 years), and men represented 81.2% of the participants. Low mean scores of all the eight domains of SF-36 were found. The 12 domains of SSQOL showed different degrees of deterioration in their means. Statistically significant differences between the means of the mobility level, and upper-limb and lower-limb voluntary control with the means of both SF-36 and SSQOL were found in favor of functional independency and full control of the limbs (P < 0.05). Voluntary control of the limbs and BI showed a significant positive correlation with both SSQOL and the physical component of SF-36. Multiple regression analysis showed that the BI score, the nature of stroke, and the comorbidities are the most significant predictors of SSQOL, with P values of 0.004, 0.013, and 0.047, respectively.ConclusionIt was concluded that HRQOL is impaired in stroke survivors, and that the functional independency level is its most significant predictor. We recommend considering the assessment of HRQOL in stroke survivors undergoing rehabilitation management as it is more relevant to the patients.