Determinants of quality of life after stroke in Southern Portugal: a cross sectional community-based study

Lourenço, Eva; Sampaio, Mário Rui dos Mártires; Nzwalo, Hipólito; Costa, Emília Isabel; Ramos, José Luis Sánchez

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/17370

Use this identifier to reference this record.

Name:	Description:	Size:	Format:
brainsci-11-01509.pdf		267.53 KB	Adobe PDF	Download

Send Feedback

Authors

Lourenço, Eva

Sampaio, Mário Rui dos Mártires

Nzwalo, Hipólito

Costa, Emília Isabel

Ramos, José Luis Sánchez

Abstract(s)

: Introduction: the perception of Quality of Life (QoL) has been used to evaluate the treatment and evolution of several pathologies. QoL evaluation allows a better understanding of the patient and his adaptation to the disease. An observational, community-based and descriptive correlational study was carried out to analyze stroke survivors’ perception of QoL. Methods: consecutive caseseries of stroke survivors (≥3 months) followed in a single public primary health center (“Tavira Primary Health Centre”) from Algarve, southern Portugal. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered in 102 stroke survivors. Results: Perception of QoL was associated (p < 0.05) with specific sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, academic training), economic (monthly family income) and clinical factors (number of vascular risk factors, type of stroke, evolution, chronic mRankin score). On multivariate analysis, chronic mRankin score on physical (R2 = 0.406; F = 8.757; p < 0.001), psychological (R2 = 0.286; F = 5.536; p < 0.001) and general domain (R2 = 0.357; F = 7.287; p < 0.001); and family income (R2 = 0.160; F = 3.156; p < 0.005) on environmental domain, emerged as predictors of QoL. Conclusion: Different socio-demographic, economic and health factors are associated with post-stroke QoL. Description of QoL contributes to the overall evaluation of the impact of stroke on health and should be a priority for health professionals.