title: Handicap 5 years after stroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Handicap is rarely comprehensively examined after stroke. We examined handicap among 5-year stroke survivors from an 'ideal' stroke incidence study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survivors were assessed with the London Handicap Scale [LHS, score range: 0 (greatest handicap) to 100 (least handicap)]. Multivariable regression was used to examine demographic, risk and stroke-related factors associated with handicap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  351 of 441 (80%) survivors were assessed. Those assessed were more often Australian born than those not assessed (p < 0.05). The mean LHS score was 73 (SD = 21). The greatest handicap was present for physical independence and occupation/leisure items. Handicap was associated with older age, manual occupations, smoking, initial stroke severity, recurrent stroke and mood disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reducing recurrent stroke, through better risk factor management, is likely to reduce handicap. The association between handicap and mood disorders, which are potentially modifiable, warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: National Stroke Research Institute, Austin Health-Repatriation Campus, Heidelberg Heights, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Seana.Gall@utas.edu.au
authors.forename: Seana L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.forename: Helen M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Richard A L
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Macdonell
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Thrift
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012907:Smoking; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology