Determinants of the health-related quality of life for stroke survivors

Abstract

Background: To identify the factors that greatly influence stroke-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The following 5 categories were explored simultaneously in a cross-sectional study: (1) sociodemographic, (2) clinical, (3) symptom severity and physical, (4) neurocognitive, and (5) psychosocial factors.

Methods: A total of 134 patients who experienced a stroke at least 6 months prior were recruited by convenience sampling. Subjective HRQoL levels were measured using disease-specific scales, the Stroke-specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL)-12, and the modified SS-QoL-8, with a newly added subscale, "activities," as well as the total score. After sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, patients were scored with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Barthel Index (BI). All patients completed the SS-QoL-12, SS-QoL-8, and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) version 3.0 by self-report. Multiple hierarchical regressions were conducted using the stepwise method.

Results: Compared with neurocognitive (type 4) factors, the stroke-specific HRQoL levels were significantly impacted by psychosocial (type 5) and "symptom severity and physical" (type 3) factors. The individual factors that significantly influenced stroke-specific HRQoL were the SIS 3.0 social participation subscore and the BI total score. None of the neurocognitive (type 4) factors were significantly associated with the either SS-QoL-12 score or SS-QoL-8 score.

Conclusions: Research and health care aimed to facilitate social participation and limitations in performing daily activities can be beneficial to improve the HRQoL levels of the patients with stroke.

Keywords: Disease-specific health-related quality of life; determinants; social participants; stroke.