Predictors of health-related quality of life in community-dwelling stroke survivors: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) post stroke is common, though prevalence estimates vary considerably. Few longitudinal studies explore post-stroke patterns of HRQoL and factors contributing to their change over time. Accurately identifying HRQoL after stroke is essential to understanding the extent of stroke effects.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess change in levels of, and identify independent predictors of, HRQoL over the first 12-months post-stroke.

METHODS

Design. A prospective cohort study.

SETTING AND

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling stroke survivors in metropolitan Newcastle, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Consecutively recruited stroke patients (n = 134) participated in face-to-face interviews at baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.

OUTCOME MEASURE: HRQoL (measured using the Assessment Quality-of-life).Independent measures. Physical and psycho-social functioning, including depression and anxiety (measured via Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), disability (Modified Rankin Scale), social support (Multi-dimensional Scale Perceived Social Support) and community participation (Adelaide Activities Profile).

ANALYSES: A linear mixed model was used to establish the predictors of, change in HRQoL over time.

RESULTS

On multivariable analysis, HRQOL did not change significantly with time post-stroke. Higher HRQoL scores were independently associated with higher baseline HRQoL (P = 0.03), younger age (P = 0.006), lower disability (P = 0.003), greater community participation (P ≤ 0.001) and no history of depression (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

These results contribute to an understanding of HRQoL in the first year post-stroke. Community participation and stroke-related disability are potentially modifiable risk factors affecting post-stroke HRQoL. Interventions aimed at addressing participation and disability post-stroke should be developed and tested.