Roudebush Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Top Stroke Rehabil. 2013 Jul-Aug;20(4):340-6. doi: 10.1310/tsr2004-340.
To investigate the association between balance and quality of life (QOL) in chronic stroke survivors by (1) examining the associations between balance and QOL scores; (2) identifying the frequency of balance impairment and poststroke falls; and (3) determining the differences in QOL scores between persons with and those without balance impairment.
This is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study. People who had a stroke more than 6 months earlier from 3 Midwest states were included in the study if they met the following criteria: were referred to occupational or physical therapy for poststroke physical deficits; had self-reported stroke-related physical deficits; completed all stroke-related rehabilitation; had residual functional disability; had a score of ≥4 out of 6 on the short 6-item Mini-Mental State Examination; and were between 50 and 85 years old (n = 59). The main outcome measures included the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to assess balance and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL) to assess QOL. Number of falls since stroke was self-reported.
Mean BBS score was 44 ± 8 and mean SS-QOL score was 46 ± 8; these scores were significantly correlated (r = .394, P = .002). Seventy-six percent of the sample reported a fall since stroke. Persons with balance impairment (BBS score ≤46; n = 29; 49%) had an average BBS score of 39 ± 7 and significantly worse SS-QOL scores than those without balance impairment (42 ± 8 vs 49 ± 7; P = .001).
In the chronic stroke population, balance impairment and fall risk are associated with lower QOL scores. If balance can be improved and maintained into the chronic phases of stroke, it is likely that individuals will benefit with improved QOL.
通过（1）检验平衡与生活质量（QOL）评分之间的相关性；（2）确定平衡障碍和卒中后跌倒的发生率；以及（3）确定有平衡障碍与无平衡障碍患者的 QOL 评分之间的差异，来研究慢性卒中幸存者的平衡与 QOL 之间的关系。
这是一项横断面研究的二次分析。来自 3 个中西部州的卒中后 6 个月以上的患者，若满足以下标准则被纳入研究：因卒中后身体缺陷而被推荐接受职业或物理治疗；报告有与卒中相关的身体缺陷；完成所有与卒中相关的康复治疗；有残余功能障碍；在简短的 6 项 Mini-Mental State Examination 中得分为 4 分或 5 分；年龄在 50 岁至 85 岁之间（n=59）。主要结局测量指标包括评估平衡的 Berg 平衡量表（BBS）和评估 QOL 的卒中特定生活质量量表（SS-QOL）。卒中后跌倒次数为自我报告。
平均 BBS 评分为 44 ± 8，平均 SS-QOL 评分为 46 ± 8；这些评分呈显著相关（r =.394，P =.002）。76%的样本报告卒中后跌倒。有平衡障碍（BBS 评分≤46；n = 29；49%）的患者平均 BBS 评分为 39 ± 7，且 SS-QOL 评分显著低于无平衡障碍者（42 ± 8 比 49 ± 7；P =.001）。
在慢性卒中人群中，平衡障碍和跌倒风险与较低的 QOL 评分相关。如果平衡能够在卒中的慢性期得到改善和维持，那么患者的 QOL 很可能会得到改善。
