Predictors of poststroke quality of life in older Chinese adults

Abstract

Title. Predictors of poststroke quality of life in older Chinese adults. Aim. This paper is a report of a study to identify the changes in poststroke quality of life and other clinical issues among older Chinese adults from 1 month to 6 months after stroke and the predictors of poststroke quality of life at 6 months. Background. Stroke survivors are known to suffer from prolonged and multiple impairments leading to a compromised quality of life, but few studies report early predictors for quality of life among older Chinese adults after active rehabilitation has been undertaken during the first 6 months after stroke. Method. A total of 214 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke were interviewed by a research nurse at 1 month and 188 patients were interviewed again 6 months after hospital admission for stroke. Assessment of quality of life was done using the Modified Rankin Scale for Quality of Life. Changes in and relationships between quality of life and variables in five domains were explored: bio-anatomical, physical, emotional, cognitive, communicative and social support. The data were collected in 2004-2005. Results. Quality of life among two-thirds of participants was unchanged or lower when scores at 1 month and 6 months after stroke were compared. Length of hospital stay after admission for stroke and other 1-month factors -level of worry over current health, cognitive and self-care deficits -were identified as having independent effects on quality of life at 6 months. Conclusion. Clinicians need to observe for early signs of mild cognitive impairments and emotional needs of stroke survivors, as well as to consider longer-term interventions to enhance poststroke quality of life.

Consistent determinants of post-stroke health-related quality of life across diverse cultures: Berlin-Ibadan study

“…Stroke severity (with its strongest correlate: disability) and post‐stroke emotional well‐being (measured by negative feelings and laughter frequency) were the principal consistent determinants of physical, psycho‐emotional, cognitive, and ecosocial HRQOL after stroke. These findings are supported by many other studies involving other populations around the world . On the other hand, sense of purpose in life was the major determinant of spiritual HRQOL after stroke.…”

“…Widely variable and sometimes contradictory socio‐demographic and clinical factors have been reported as possible determinants of post‐stroke HRQOL by researchers working with different populations . For instance, while post‐stroke emotional disorder was reported as a determinant of HRQOL in Melbourne , it was not assessed in a study of stroke patients in China .…”

Frequency of Anxiety after Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…Ten studies that could have potentially contributed to the review findings were excluded as authors were unavailable to provide necessary information. Reasons for exclusion were: reporting anxiety as a continuous outcome (23)(24)(25)(26), using a rating scale that measured anxiety but not reporting anxiety findings (27)(28)(29)(30), reporting only patients with comorbid anxiety and depression (31), reporting only correlations between anxiety and another variable (32), and an unpublished thesis that was not accessible (33). An updated search run in March 2011 found three additional studies, giving a total of 44 studies included in this review.…”

Qualidade de vida de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral em reabilitação

“…Another researcher showed that good social support and quality family assistance maintained, and in some cases even improved, the of the patients. (20,23) The presence of sequelae after stroke, generated dependence on the part of the patients for the performance of activities of daily living. In this study, 49.6% of patients had moderate to severe dependency, consistent with findings in the literature ranging between 31% and 62%.…”