Health-Related Quality of Life Trajectories over the First Year after Stroke in Colombia, South America

Abstract

BACKGROUND Stroke is the second most common cause of death around the world, and little is known about long-term HRQOL outcomes for Latino American individuals after stroke. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study is to compare HRQOL trajectories in stroke survivors to a group of healthy controls from Colombia first year post-stroke. METHODS Forty individuals diagnosed with stroke and 50 controls were recruited from the Psychological Attention Center of Antonio Nariño University. RESULTS Hierarchical linear models suggested that trajectories of all eight indices of HRQOL were lower over time in stroke individuals compared to controls. Stroke patients showed gains in the HRQOL domains of physical functioning, role limitations - physical, role limitations - emotional, pain, and social functioning, although only pain in stroke individuals approached that of controls at 12 months. Despite these improvements, seven of the eight indices of HRQOL in stroke individuals remained very low over time, suggesting that the vast majority of rehabilitation gains in HRQOL, even when present, were extremely limited. CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest a need in Latin America for mental health services after stroke, as well as other interventions designed to increase social and family support, which may thereby improve mental health.

Stroke disease‐specific quality of life trajectories after rehabilitation discharge and their sociodemographic and clinical associations: A longitudinal, multicentre study

“…This study had several implications. First, although several studies (Paredes et al., 2016; Pucciarelli, Lee, et al, 2019; Twardzik et al., 2019; van Mierlo et al., 2018) have analysed stroke survivors' QoL over time, only a limited number of longitudinal studies have used a stroke‐specific QoL instrument. In addition, this is one of the first studies to have analysed the baseline and longitudinal significant variables associated with stroke‐specific QoL (SIS).…”

“…Research on the trajectory of survivors' QoL over time has generally focused on the first 6 months poststroke, and results are inconsistent. Indeed, while some studies (Paredes et al., 2016; Twardzik et al., 2019) found an improvement of the stroke survivors' QoL from 1–6 months poststroke, other studies (van Mierlo et al., 2018) showed an improvement during inpatient rehabilitation but a worsening at 6 months after discharge. For example, Paredes et al (2016), in a sample of 40 stroke survivors and 50 healthy people, observed that stroke survivors had lower QoL over time compared with healthy people, with a slight improvement during the first 6 months and a worsening from 6–12 months.…”

“…Indeed, while some studies (Paredes et al, 2016;Twardzik et al, 2019) found an improvement of the stroke survivors' QoL from 1-6 months poststroke, other studies (van Mierlo et al, 2018) showed an improvement during inpatient rehabilitation but a worsening at 6 months after discharge. For example, Paredes et al (2016), in a sample of 40 stroke survivors and 50 healthy people, observed that stroke survivors had lower QoL over time compared with healthy people, with a slight improvement during the first 6 months and a worsening from 6-12 months. Similar findings were found by Twardzik et al (2019), who observed, in a sample of 284 stroke survivors, that the average trajectory of QoL was flat over time, with a better QoL for women and young people than for men and older people.…”

Health-Related Quality of Life of an adult population sample in Barranquilla, Colombia

“…Several authors have reported population estimates of Hrqol in Colombia, but for patient populations affected by or being treated for chronic diseases (9)(10)(11)(12). Few of these studies have reported Hrqol normative data for the general population (13)(14)(15).…”

Quality of life in patients with stroke at 1-year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation: A multicenter study

“…Their results revealed that health-related quality of life (HRQoL), participation, and life satisfaction improved during the first year after stroke, with most changes occurring during the first 6 months. In contrast, Paredes et al studied HRQoL of stroke at 12 months and found that all indices of HRQoL were lower over time in stroke individuals compared to healthy controls [8]. Laurent et al reported QoL of stroke survivors at 2-year follow-up and found that QoL was significantly impaired, as compared to control group [9].…”