T W Teasdale1, A W Engberg. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, and Division of Neurological Rehabilitation, Copenhagen University Hospital at Hvidovre, Denmark. tom.teasdale@psy.ku.dk
Abstract
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychosocial status among nationally representative groups of stroke patients at long intervals post-stroke. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: From a Danish national register of hospitalizations, three representative groups of surviving patients were selected who had suffered a stroke 5, 10 and 15 years previously. A follow-up postal questionnaire was sent to them comprising items concerning symptomatology, functioning and social conditions, together with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Longer follow-up intervals were associated with younger age at stroke and better functioning at discharge. At follow-up, the majority of patients reported difficulties with attention, memory and emotional control, irrespective of follow-up interval. Return to employment, social relations and leisure activities were affected, but were comparatively better at longer follow-up intervals, as was self-rated functioning and several NHP symptom scales. However, multi-variate analyses suggest that these positive changes with time appear to be mediated by attrition related to age at stroke and discharge functioning rather than time since stroke itself. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatology, functioning and social conditions remain affected and perhaps stagnant in long-term survivors of stroke.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychosocial status among nationally representative groups of strokepatients at long intervals post-stroke. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: From a Danish national register of hospitalizations, three representative groups of surviving patients were selected who had suffered a stroke 5, 10 and 15 years previously. A follow-up postal questionnaire was sent to them comprising items concerning symptomatology, functioning and social conditions, together with the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Longer follow-up intervals were associated with younger age at stroke and better functioning at discharge. At follow-up, the majority of patients reported difficulties with attention, memory and emotional control, irrespective of follow-up interval. Return to employment, social relations and leisure activities were affected, but were comparatively better at longer follow-up intervals, as was self-rated functioning and several NHP symptom scales. However, multi-variate analyses suggest that these positive changes with time appear to be mediated by attrition related to age at stroke and discharge functioning rather than time since stroke itself. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatology, functioning and social conditions remain affected and perhaps stagnant in long-term survivors of stroke.
Authors: David E Warren; Melissa C Duff; Vincent Magnotta; Aristides A Capizzano; Martin D Cassell; Daniel Tranel Journal: Clin Neuropsychol Date: 2012-03-08 Impact factor: 3.535