engleski

Quality of life of patients after stroke in county of Osijek-Baranya, Croatia

The aim of this research was to determine quality of life (QOL) of patients after stroke regarding their physical and mental health in County Osijek-Baranya. The research included 100 patients of both sexes who had their first acute stroke and were treated in Clinical Hospital Osijek, Clinic of Neurology. Barthel indeks (BI) was used to assess functional deficiency and SF-36-v2TM questionnaire was used for self-evaluation of patients' physical and mental health. The first assessment was carried out in acute phase of the disease, and control assessments were carried out at one, three and six months after the stroke in patients' homes. Mean BI scores were: 45.32 in first measurement, 62.34 in second, 73.66 in third and 80.81 in fourth measurement. According to SF scale mean values of physical health of the patients were: 40.08 in first measurement, 36.86 in second, 43.52 in third and 47.64 in fourth measurement, while mean values of mental health were: 46.12 in first, 36.92 in second, 42.91 in third and 45.54 in fourth measurement. ANOVA test revealed significant difference between values obtained for physical health (p = 0.016), mental health (p = 0.0431) and total health assessment (p = 0.040). This significant difference between measurements in BI was confirmed (Friedman, p < 0.001). There was high correlation between self assessment of physical health and assessment by BI in third and fourth measurements (Pearson r = 0.723, p < 0.001). Values obtained by BI are constantly increasing, which indicates that patients' functional abilities are continuously improving during first six months after the stroke. Values obtained by selfassessment of QOL vary in particular areas of physical and mental health. The difference was the least between mean values obtained in third and fourth measurements, probably because of patients' great expectations that were not realized.

stroke; outcome assessment; quality of life; physical health; mental health

DOI: 10.1016/S0022-510X(09)70659-8