Psychosocial consequences of stroke: a long-term population-based follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate psychosocial status among nationally representative groups of stroke patients at long intervals post-stroke.


METHODS
From a Danish national register of hospitalizations, three representative groups of surviving patients were selected who had suffered a stroke 5, 10 and 15 years previously. A follow-up postal questionnaire was sent to them comprising items concerning symptomatology, functioning and social conditions, together with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP).


RESULTS
Longer follow-up intervals were associated with younger age at stroke and better functioning at discharge. At follow-up, the majority of patients reported difficulties with attention, memory and emotional control, irrespective of follow-up interval. Return to employment, social relations and leisure activities were affected, but were comparatively better at longer follow-up intervals, as was self-rated functioning and several NHP symptom scales. However, multi-variate analyses suggest that these positive changes with time appear to be mediated by attrition related to age at stroke and discharge functioning rather than time since stroke itself.


CONCLUSIONS
Symptomatology, functioning and social conditions remain affected and perhaps stagnant in long-term survivors of stroke.
Teasdale
T W
TW
Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, and Division of Neurological Rehabilitation, Copenhagen University Hospital at Hvidovre, Denmark. tom.teasdale@psy.ku.dk
Engberg
A W
AW
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation