Epidemiologic profile of long-term stroke disability: the Framingham study.

One hundred forty-eight long-term stroke survivors and 148 control persons matched for age and sex, from the Framingham Study cohort, were examined for residual functional disability. Prevalence rates for 9 specific types of functional deficit ranged from 15% for institutionalization, to 63% for decreased vocational function in the group of stroke survivors. The comparable rates in the control group were significantly lower. Cardiovascular comorbidity was greater in stroke survivors than in controls. Removal of its apparent effects on function decreased the magnitude, but not the overall pattern, of documented disability in both groups. The most severe disabilities, institutionalization, dependence in mobility, and dependence in self-care, were the least prevalent. The more frequently documented types of functional deficit were those in which psychosocial and environmental factors are significant determinants.