Handicap 5 years after stroke in the North East Melbourne Stroke Incidence Study.
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.
Gall
Seana L
SL
National Stroke Research Institute, Austin Health-Repatriation Campus, Heidelberg Heights, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Seana.Gall@utas.edu.au
Dewey
Helen M
HM
Sturm
Jonathan W
JW
Macdonell
Richard A L
RA
Thrift
Amanda G
AG
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