Background Self-rated health (SRH) allows for comparison and identification of the health status of various populations. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to expand the understanding of SRH after stroke. Methods This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056194) and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published until December 2018 that evaluated the SRH of adults with stroke were included. Results Of the 2132 identified studies, 51 were included. Only four studies had experimental designs (7.8%). In 60.7% of the studies, SRH was assessed by variations on direct questions (i.e., general and comparative SRH). Analog visual scales and quality of life instruments were also used to evaluate SRH, but there is no consensus regarding whether they are appropriate for this purpose. The results of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed significant associations between poor SRH and stroke as well as between SRH, function, and disability. The power of SRH to predict stroke mortality is still uncertain. Two interventions (a home-based psychoeducational program concerning stroke health care and family involvement in functional rehabilitation) effectively improved SRH. Conclusions Direct questions are the most common method of evaluating SRH after stroke. Studies reported significant associations between the SRH of individuals with stroke and several relevant health outcomes. However, few experimental studies have evaluated SRH after stroke. Interventions involving health education and family involvement had a significant impact on SRH.

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O fator ambiental constitui o ambiente físico, social e atitudinal em que indivíduo vive e conduz sua vida, incluindo barreiras e/ou facilitadores. A qualidade de vida é um construto amplo que envolve vários fatores, dentre eles o ambiental. A relação entre qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) após Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) e fatores ambientais ainda é pouco explorada. Conhecer essa relação pode facilitar o processo de avaliação e planejamento de intervenções para melhora da QVRS desses indivíduos.  Objetivo: Investigar a associação entre fatores ambientais e QVRS de indivíduos com AVC, na fase crônica, usuários da atenção primária à saúde de Belo Horizonte (BH)/Brasil. Métodos: Fatores ambientais foram avaliados pelo Measure of the Quality of Environment (MQE) e a QVRS pela Escala de Qualidade de Vida Específica para Acidente Vascular Encefálico (EQVE-AVE). Correlação de Spearman foi utilizada para investigar a associação entre fatores ambientais e QVRS (escore total e dos domínios do EQVE-AVE) (α=5%). Resultados: Foram encontradas associações significantes, negativas e de fraca magnitude entre fatores ambientais considerados como obstáculos com o escore total do EQVE-AVE (p =0,001; rho = -0,33) e com os domínios de mobilidade (p =0,01 rho = -0,33) e trabalho/produtividade do EQVE-AVE (p =0,03; rho = -0,28). Conclusão: Fatores ambientais e QVRS possuem associação significante, ainda que seja de fraca magnitude. Portanto, fatores ambientais considerados como obstáculos, devem ser considerados na abordagem da QVRS de indivíduos na fase crônica após AVC, usuários da atenção primária à saúde do Brasil.

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Background After a stroke, several aspects of health and function may influence how individuals perceive their own health. However, self-rated health (SRH), as well as its relationship with functioning, has been little explored in individuals with stroke. The aims of this study were to determine how individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities evaluate their health, considering general, time- and age-comparative SRH questions and to investigate whether SRH measures would be influenced by the following health and functioning domains: mental/physical functions and personal factors. Methods Sixty-nine individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities answered the three types of SRH questions and were assessed regarding depressive symptoms (emotional function domain), physical activity levels (physical function domain), and engagement in physical activity practice (personal factor domain). Subjects were divided into the following groups: good/poor for the general SRH question; better, similar, and "worse" for both time- and age-comparative questions. Between-group differences in the three domains for each SRH question were investigated (α = 5%). Results General SRH was rated as good by 73% of the participants. Time- and age-comparative SRH was rated as better by 36% and 47% and as similar by 31% and 28% of the subjects, respectively. Significant between-group differences in emotional function were found for both the general and age-comparative questions. For the time-comparative question, significant differences were only observed for physical function. Conclusion SRH evaluation differed in individuals with chronic post-stroke disabilities according to the types of questions and health/functioning domains.