Quality of life after stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purposes of this study were to examine overall and domain-specific quality of life in long-term stroke survivors and to identify variables that predict quality of life after stroke.

METHODS

The study used a cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design. Subjects were 86 stroke survivors who were interviewed 1 to 3 years after stroke. Quality of life was measured with the use of an instrument that assesses satisfaction and importance for four domains (health and functioning, socioeconomic, family, and psychological-spiritual). Independent variables were age, social class, aphasia, functional status, motor impairment, depression, comorbidity, and perceived social support. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict quality of life.

RESULTS

Thirty percent of subjects scored in the depressed range. The mean overall quality of life score was relatively high and was comparable to that of a normative population. Quality of life was highest for the family domain and lowest for health and functioning. Depression, perceived social support, and functional status predicted quality of life (adjusted R2 = .38) and contributed to prediction of domain quality of life. Social support and three additional variables, social class, age, and cardiovascular disease, predicted socioeconomic quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of depression, social support, and functional status as predictors of quality of life suggests the need to assist stroke survivors in coping and in maintaining and strengthening their support systems.