Stroke Severity and Health-Related Quality of Life among Stroke Survivors at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Zagazig University Medical Journal
Abstract
Background: Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide, significantly
affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL), particularly in low- and
middle-income countries. Despite increasing survival rates, limited research
exists on the relationship between stroke severity and HRQoL in Nigeria. This
study examines the association between stroke severity and HRQoL among
stroke survivors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH),
Nigeria.Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and
November 2023 among 252 stroke survivors attending neurology and
physiotherapy clinics at UITH. Stroke severity was assessed using the Stroke
Levity Scale (SLS) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), while HRQoL was
measured using the HRQOLISP-40 questionnaire. Socio-demographic and
clinical characteristics were recorded. SPSS version 23.0 was used for data
analysis, including descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, regression
analysis, and ANOVA. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The mean age of participants was 61.1 ± 15.4 years, with 61.9% being
male. Stroke severity was significantly associated with lower HRQoL,
particularly in the physical (p=0.001), psycho-emotional (p=0.003), cognitive
(p=0.005), and eco-social (p=0.012) domains. The spiritual domain was
unaffected (p=0.345). Socio-demographic factors such as return to work
(p=0.009), source of income (p=0.012), and physiotherapy costs (p=0.017)
significantly influenced HRQoL. Conclusion: Stroke severity has a profound
impact on HRQoL, underscoring the need for comprehensive rehabilitation,
financial assistance, and psychosocial support to improve stroke survivors'
quality of life.
Description
Keywords
Stroke, Health-Related Quality of Life, Rehabilitation, Stroke Severity, Socio-economic Factors.