Patterns of Health-Related Quality of Life among Stroke Survivors: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Six months poststroke is critical for optimizing stroke survivors’ recovery and improving their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Understanding HRQoL profiles in specific domains can provide a more typical plan for stroke survivors. This pilot study aimed to explore the HRQoL patterns among 39 stroke survivors within 6 months following diagnosis. The results revealed that there were four patterns based on HRQoL domains. Pattern 1: energy, family role, mobility, self-care, social role, and work/productivity domains likely to improve; Pattern 2: language and vision domains likely to improve and be stable; Pattern 3: thinking and upper extremity function domains likely to worsen and improve later; and Pattern 4: mood and personality domains likely to worsen and be constant. Health care providers can apply these results by continuing to assess and provide care to stroke survivors focusing on functional status, cognitive status, and depression over time. Further study should explore the factors predicting HRQoL.