Determinants of quality of life (QoL) in elderly stroke patients: A short-term follow-up study

• Published in: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics 2011-07, Vol.53 (1), p.19-23
• Main Authors: Gunaydin, Rezzan, Karatepe, Altinay Goksel, Kaya, Taciser, Ulutas, Ozgur
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Depression; Depression - epidemiology; Depression - psychology; Depression in elderly; Elderly people; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Functional status; Geriatric Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Middle Aged; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Quality of life after stroke; Severity; Severity of Illness Index; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - psychology; Stroke in elderly; Stroke-specific quality of life (SSQoL) scale; Strokes; Turkey - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0167-4943; 1872-6976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2010.06.004

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life (QoL) at the third month after stroke and to identify the factors related with and determinants of QoL in geriatric stroke patients. Eighty of 122 patients who were assessed within the first week after stroke were reevaluated at the third month. Patients were divided into two groups as those of ≥65 years old (geriatric group) and those of 0.05). The most influenced subscale of QoL was work/productivity in geriatric patients, and the main determinant of QoL was the functional status during the assessment. Stroke patients had an impaired QoL, and geriatric patients did not demonstrate a difference in terms of QoL compared to non-geriatric patients. The fact that the main determinant of QoL was functional status has been suggested that improving of physical function may be helpful to provide a better QoL for stroke patients.