Objective: To validate a quality of life scale, EuroQoL, on stroke patients. Method: 67 patients were scored simultaneously for EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Barthel Index (mBI). Pearson test was used to correlate each scale. Additionally, 31 patients were examined by two independent evaluators on the same day through application of EQ-5D. Kappa statistics were used to evaluate interobserver agreement. Results: EQ-5D showed good correlation with both stroke severity (NIHSS, r= -0.404, P<0.001) and degree of impairment on activities of daily living (mBI, r=0.512, P<0.001). We noticed a good interobserver agreement (k>0.60) in all dimensions evaluated (P<0.01). Conclusion: We demonstrated that EQ-5D is reproducible and valid on evaluation of quality of life in patients post stroke in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke is one of the major causes of neurological deficiencies in the world, and can lead to a wide spectrum of physical deficiencies, including gait performance. These gait abnormalities have a substantial impact on functional activities, lifestyle, and the individual's perceptions about the functionality of daily life and well-being after stroke. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate gait performance, identifying determining which gait components were associated with impaired quality of life in stroke survivors. METHODS: Individuals with  independent gait after a stroke, with or without the use of walking aids such as crutches or canes  were included in the study.  The socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded, then some tests were evaluated, with o 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10-meters walk test (10MWT), Timed Up & Go (TUG), modified Barthel Index (mBI),National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and European Quality of life – 5 dimensions (EQ-5D). A stepwise multivariable logistic regression model assessed predictors of impaired QoL. RESULTS: A total of 124 individual with a mean age of 66 years and median NIHSS of 3 points were included. The mean EQ-5D was 0.44 (SD 0.38) and 91 individuals (73%) had impaired QoL. There was a positive correlation between 6MWT and EQ-5D (r = 0.48, p <0.001). Increasing age, functional capacity, 6MWT, 10MWT, stroke severity and female sex were associated with impaired QoL (p<0.05). In the multivariable analysis, 6MWT (OR 0.94 per 10m increase, p=0.046), functional capacity (OR 0.66, p=0.022) and age (OR 0.54 per 10 year increase, p=0.002) were associated with impaired QoL. CONCLUSION: Distance walked in 6MWT was the strongest gait aspect independently associated with quality of life in community-dwelling individuals with independent gait after a stroke.