Quality of Life of Stroke Patients and their Caregivers
2017
Background: Disability following a stroke leads to deterioration in the quality of life (QoL) not only of patients, but
also of their relatives. Identifying which patient-related variables have the greatest impact on caregivers’ QoL will allow
us to improve rehabilitation interventions.
Objective: To assess the QoL of patients after a stroke and that of their main caregivers. A secondary aim was to
analyse potential relationships between patient-related variables and the most affected aspects of caregivers’ QoL.
Methods: Prospective cohort study. Sociodemographic data, cognitive status, aphasia, dysphagia, and disability
were evaluated 6 months after a stroke. The QoL of patients and caregivers was assessed using the 36-item Short
Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Results: 157 patients and 119 caregivers were evaluated. Patients had a mean age of 70.9 ± 11.8 years and
Barthel index of 77.15 ± 22.77. The caregiver was usually a woman (74%) and mean age of 58.8 ± 12.43 years. Stroke
patients and caregivers perceived deterioration in their QoL, this being more marked in the case of women. Older
patients obtained poorer scores in physical function. In caregivers, the SF-36 physical component summary score
was lower when care recipients had poorer functional status and/or difficulty swallowing, while the mental component
summary score was lower when care recipients were younger and/or male.
Conclusions: Disability of patients following a stroke has a negative impact on their quality of life and that of their
main caregiver. The degree of disability and dysphagia of the care recipient have the greatest impact on caregivers’
mental and physical health.
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