Self-Assessed Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional Impact of Stroke at 1 Month: The Importance of Stroke Severity and Participation.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to describe the self-assessed physical, emotional, and cognitive impact of stroke and to investigate associations with participation and stroke severity in early stage (1 month) poststroke.


METHODS
Participants (n = 104, mean age = 68) with reduced upper extremity function assessed at day 3 were included from a Swedish stroke unit. Participants were evaluated with The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale at arrival, median 7.9 (0-24). The cohort was assessed for their perceived impact of stroke with the Stroke Impact Scale at 1 month poststroke.


RESULTS
The perceptions of emotional health, communication skills, and ability to remember were perceived as quite good, with a mean score of 83-86. However, nearly 60% reported limitations in participation. This group also evaluated their physical function to be significantly lower compared to participants who did not report limitations in participation.


CONCLUSIONS
One month poststroke, a lower score on self-assessed physical function was associated with both a perceived restriction in participation and a more severe stroke. The association of physical function and perceived participation at 1 month poststroke needs to be taken into account when planning the early rehabilitation.
Research group for Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address: karin.tornbom@neuro.gu.se.
Karin
K
Törnbom
Research group for Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hanna C
HC
Persson
Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Jörgen
J
Lundälv
Research group for Rehabilitation Medicine, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; Centre for Person-Centred Care (GPCC), University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Katharina S
KS
Sunnerhagen
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D058992:Social Participation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
Stroke; physical function; rehabilitation; social participation