Eline C C van Lieshout1,2, Ingrid G van de Port3, Rick M Dijkhuizen1, Johanna M A Visser-Meily2,4. 1. Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands. 2. Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University, and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation , Utrecht, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Research, Revant Rehabilitation Center Breda , Breda, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht and Utrecht University , Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Background: Impairments in arm function are a common problem in stroke survivors and have a large impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Little is known about the longitudinal relationship between recovery of upper limb strength and changes in HRQoL. Objectives: This study aimed to determine to what extent changes in HRQoL are related to changes in upper limb strength after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: 250 patients from an RCT were assessed at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (baseline) and at 12 weeks post-discharge (follow-up). The Stroke Impact Scale was used to measure HRQoL, and the Motricity Index Arm was used to measure upper limb strength. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive value of upper limb strength on HRQoL, relative to demographic and clinical characteristics. Regression analysis was used to determine the relation between upper limb strength improvement and HRQoL improvement. Results: Upper limb strength at baseline was a major predictor of HRQoL at follow-up, after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics (p < .05). Improvement in HRQoL was positively related to improvement in upper limb strength (F(1, 240) = 18.351, p <.0005). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of upper limb strength in HRQoL, as HRQoL is associated with improvement in upper limb strength recovery. Better monitoring of recovery and treatment of upper limb strength during the outpatient rehabilitation period and beyond, i.e. outside the typical time-window of recovery in the first 3 months post-stroke, might contribute to higher quality of life for stroke survivors.
Background: Impairments in arm function are a common problem in stroke survivors and have a large impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Little is known about the longitudinal relationship between recovery of upper limb strength and changes in HRQoL. Objectives: This study aimed to determine to what extent changes in HRQoL are related to changes in upper limb strength after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Methods: 250 patients from an RCT were assessed at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation (baseline) and at 12 weeks post-discharge (follow-up). The Stroke Impact Scale was used to measure HRQoL, and the Motricity Index Arm was used to measure upper limb strength. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed to determine the predictive value of upper limb strength on HRQoL, relative to demographic and clinical characteristics. Regression analysis was used to determine the relation between upper limb strength improvement and HRQoL improvement. Results: Upper limb strength at baseline was a major predictor of HRQoL at follow-up, after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics (p < .05). Improvement in HRQoL was positively related to improvement in upper limb strength (F(1, 240) = 18.351, p <.0005). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of upper limb strength in HRQoL, as HRQoL is associated with improvement in upper limb strength recovery. Better monitoring of recovery and treatment of upper limb strength during the outpatient rehabilitation period and beyond, i.e. outside the typical time-window of recovery in the first 3 months post-stroke, might contribute to higher quality of life for stroke survivors.
Authors: Adam de Havenon; Laura Heitsch; Abimbola Sunmonu; Robynne Braun; Keith R Lohse; John W Cole; Eva Mistry; Arne Lindgren; Bradford B Worrall; Steven C Cramer Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2021-11-20 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Ruiqing Kang; Marcin Gamdzyk; Hong Tang; Yujie Luo; Cameron Lenahan; John H Zhang Journal: Transl Stroke Res Date: 2020-11-20 Impact factor: 6.800
Authors: Patricia García-Pérez; María Del Carmen Rodríguez-Martínez; José Pablo Lara; Carlos de la Cruz-Cosme Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-12-07 Impact factor: 3.390