title: The Impact of Ischemic Cerebral Stroke on the Quality of Life of Patients Based on Clinical, Social, and Psychoemotional Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral stroke is the major cause of disability in the modern world and, given its consequences, poses serious medical and social problems. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients who suffered from an ischemic cerebral stroke with respect to various areas of life, including, in particular, clinical and psychoemotional factors. The study hypothesis states that the poststroke quality of life is reduced in the general context as well as in the context of specific areas of life. It was also considered of key importance to assess how the quality of life of patients is affected by depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 44 patients with the first ischemic cerebral stroke of moderate and mild severity according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, currently treated in the Neurology Department of the Międzyleski Specialist Hospital in Warsaw. The quality of life was measured based on the standardized Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the results, it was demonstrated that the quality of life of the patients was significantly reduced on the psychological and spiritual well-being subscale and that depression is a more frequent occurrence among patients with cerebral stroke of moderate severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continued and complex posthospitalization care, including treatment for depression and increased social support, may to a significant extent reduce the negative impact of the disease on the perceived quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: marta.dbender@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dąbrowska-Bender
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gołąbek
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Aneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duda-Zalewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Staniszewska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D066252:Sociological Factors; D029181:Spirituality; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ischemic cerebral stroke; clinical factors; psychoemotional factors; quality of life