Satisfaction with quality of life poststroke: effect of sex differences in pain response.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between sex differences among men and women in the response to pain and the effect on satisfaction with quality of life (QOL) in poststroke patients approximately 90 days after discharge from inpatient medical rehabilitation.


METHODS
Cross-sectional design.


METHODS
Community based.


METHODS
The sample included 1724 patients (877 men, 847 women) aged 40 years and older with a history of stroke, according to information obtained from the IT HealthTrack database. The average age was 68.7 years; 79.3% were non-Hispanic white.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Satisfaction with QOL.


RESULTS
Pain ratings for both the men and the women were significant and inversely associated with satisfaction with QOL after adjustments for possible confounding factors. However, among men with stroke, each 1-point increase in pain rating was associated with an 18% decreased odds of being satisfied with QOL (odds ratio [OR], .81; 95% confidence interval [CI], .77-.86). Conversely, among women with stroke, each 1-point increase in pain rating was associated with an 11% decreased odds of being satisfied with QOL (OR=.89; 95% CI, .84-.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that pain after stroke is significantly associated with reduced satisfaction with QOL, particularly among men. Increased awareness and treatment of pain may improve satisfaction with QOL. Our findings suggest that sex differences and pain response are clinically important factors in examining satisfaction with QOL in the poststroke population.
Bergés
Ivonne-Marie
IM
Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. imberges@utmb.edu
Ottenbacher
Kenneth J
KJ
Kuo
Yong-Fang
YF
Smith
Pamela M
PM
Smith
David
D
Ostir
Glenn V
GV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification* / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation