title: Apathy and health-related quality of life in stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in stroke survivors with and without apathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute stroke unit in a regional hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stroke survivors (N=391) recruited from the acute stroke unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were divided into apathy and nonapathy groups. Participants who scored ≥36 on the Apathy Evaluation Scale, clinician's version formed the apathy group. HRQOL was measured with the 2 component scores, mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS), of the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Demographic and clinical information were obtained with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-six (9%) participants had apathy. The apathy group had significantly lower MCS and PCS scores. After adjusting for sex, education, diabetes mellitus, and NIHSS, MMSE, GDS, and BI scores, the MCS score in the apathy group remained significantly lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apathy has a significant negative effect on HRQOL in stroke survivors, particularly on their mental health. Interventions for apathy could improve the HRQOL of stroke survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: tangwk@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Wai-Kwong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Chieh Grace
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mok
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; University of Notre Dame Australia/Marian Centre, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabor S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ungvari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ka-Sing
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057565:Apathy / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Apathy; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Stroke