title: Spouses of Stroke Survivors Report Reduced Health-Related Quality of Life Even in Long-Term Follow-Up: Results From Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The consequences for the family of stroke survivor are generally studied in a short-term perspective. The aim of this study was to assess long-term aspects of health-related quality of life among spouses of stroke survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on stroke survivors, controls, and spouses were collected from the 7-year follow-up of the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke (SAHLSIS). The health-related quality of life of spouses was assessed by the Short Form-36, and the characteristics of stroke survivors were assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Barthel Index, and the modified Rankin Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dyads of 248 stroke survivors aged <70 at stroke onset and 245 dyads of matched controls were included. Spouses of stroke survivors and spouses of controls had a median age of 64 and 65, respectively; proportion of men was 35% and 34%, respectively. The spouses of stroke survivors reported lower scores in all the mental domains (P=0.045; P<0.001), as well as in the domains of general health (P=0.013) and physical role (P=0.006), compared with the spouses of controls. Predictors of poor physical health of the spouses were their own age and the level of global disability of the stroke survivor. Predictors of poor mental health of the spouses were depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and global disability among the stroke survivors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health-related quality of life of spouses of stroke survivors is reduced not only during the first years but also in the long-term perspective.
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. josefine.persson@vgregion.se.
authors: Josefine
authors: J
authors: Persson
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Lukas
authors: L
authors: Holmegaard
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Ingvar
authors: I
authors: Karlberg
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Redfors
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Jood
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Jern
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Blomstrand
authors: From the Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology (J.P., L.H., P.R., K.J., C.B., G.F.-W.), Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine (I.K.), and Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine (C.J.), Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: Gunilla
authors: G
authors: Forsberg-Wärleby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: cross-sectional studies; follow-up studies; outcome assessment (health care); spouses; stroke