[Many chronic problems in CVA patients at home].
OBJECTIVE
To find out what the late implications of a stroke were for patients and relatives and whether specific requests for help existed.


METHODS
Cross sectional study.


METHODS
Academic Hospital Nijmegen, department of Neurology and Sint Maartenskliniek (rehabilitation centre), The Netherlands.


METHODS
Patients who had sustained a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in the last five years were asked, using the sickness impact profile (SIP), about their subjective functioning and the effect of the CVA on daily life. They were also asked about the degree to which they experienced their complaints as a problem, and whether they needed help.


RESULTS
In this study 165 patients and their close relatives filled out the SIP. Stroke had a very high impact on everyday functioning as indicated by a total SIP score of 20. The results further showed that psychosocial problems arise independently of the degree of physical problems, that these problems were chronic, and that psychosocial problems hindered 52% of the patients often to always. The physical problems hindered 60% of them often to always. A third of the patients wanted help for their physical problems, a quarter for their psychosocial problems.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of stroke on both patients and their relatives was extensive and appeared chronic. There was need for physical and psychosocial help in a third or quarter of the cases.
Hochstenbach
J B
JB
Neurologisch Instituut, Katholieke Universiteit, Nijmegen.
Donders
A R
AR
Mulder
T
T
van Limbeek
J
J
Schoonderwaldt
H
H
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012944:Social Support
Veel chronische problemen bij CVA-patiënten thuis.