Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients with Stroke Using Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale

Abstract

Background: Quality of life (QOL) is the degree to which an individual is healthy, comfortable, and able to participate in or enjoy life events. It is necessary to understand how the duration and age of patients affects different aspects of QOL so that it will help to frame appropriate guidelines about management of stroke related impairments and participation restriction. Methodology: It was an observational study conducted in physiotherapy OPD of a tertiary care hospital from January to October 2021. After the approval from Institutional Ethics committee, 100 patients with stroke were included in the study. Stroke Specific Quality of life questionnaire was administered on them in local language. Results: As the duration of stroke increases, scores on SSQOL scale increases indicating better functioning with scores of 112.9 for the duration of 6-16 months, 117.94 for 17-27 months and 130.5 for 28-38 months. As per the age analysis, age group of 45-65yrs shows better quality of life with score of 123.18 as compared to score of 99.58 for 66-86yrs and score of 110.16 for 24-44yrs. Conclusion: Patients with duration of stroke of 28-38 months showed better quality of life as compared to 6-16 months and 17-27 months. Similarly, patients in the age range of 45-65 years showed better quality of life as compared to lower and upper age groups. However, Social Roles scored the same across all duration of condition indicating the need for remedial measures to be taken to improve the same. Keywords: Quality of life, stroke, Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale