Pielęgniarstwo Neurologiczne i Neurochirurgiczne (Jun 2019)

Health-related Quality of Life in 5-year Stroke Survivors Assessed with EQ-5D-3L

  • Barbara Grabowska- Fudala,
  • Anna Smelkowska,
  • Krystyna Górna,
  • Krystyna Jaracz

DOI
https://doi.org/10.15225/PNN.2019.8.2.3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 2
pp. 62 – 68

Abstract

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Introduction. In recent decades prognoses for stroke survivors regarding the risk of death or serious disability have improved, primarily due to stroke units, thrombolytic therapy and mechanical thrombectomy. Long-term research concerning the course of recovery and the consequences of strokes, which apart from clinical and functional indices would also include the quality of life, is relatively scarce. For this reason it is necessary to constantly update our knowledge of various aspects of the long-term process of recovery of stroke survivors. Aim. The aim of the present study was to assess health-related quality of life in a prospective manner over a period of up to five years following a stroke. Material and Methods. The study sample consisted of 27 patients (18 men and 9 women) aged between 53 and 82, mean age of 68.77 years (SD 8.16), 3 months, 12 months and 5 years after suffering from an ischaemic stroke. Quality of life was assessed using the Euro-Quality of Life Questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L), which covers five quality of life dimensions, the summary quality of life index (EQ — index), and self-assessment of health using the VAS scale (EQ VAS). Results. Quality of life impairment in various dimensions and at various time points of the study concerned from 8% to 60% of patients. Problems occurred mainly in the “pain/discomfort” dimension, and applied to more than 40% of patients during the observation period. The lowest intensity of problems was found in the “self-care” dimension, these referred to from 7% to 14.8% of patients. Mean levels of the EQ index were rather high in all assessments (> 0.80), while those of EQ VAS were moderate (between 60 and 70 points). They did not changed significantly over the period of observation. Conclusions. The quality of life of the majority of stroke patients is relatively good, although it differs for various dimensions. The quality of life in the “non-physical” dimensions is lower than in the physical dimensions. Also the quality of life of patients 3 months after a stroke does not change significantly over the next few years. (JNNN 2019;8(2):62–68)

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