The Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life in Stroke Survivors Age 40 and Older

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between clinical and socio-demographic status and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) in stroke survivors age 40 and older in the Korean population. METHODS: The relationship between stroke and HR-QoL was investigated using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), conducted from 2007–2012. The total number of respondents was 24,050 and 757 stroke survivors were included. Specifically, we investigated factors associated with the lowering of HR-QoL in a group of Korean adult stroke patients age 40 and older after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, and clinical comorbidities. Adjusted effects of covariates on EuroQol-visual analog scales (EQ-VAS) scores were estimated with a complex-samples general linear model and multivariate-adjusted odds ratios of the lowest quintile versus highest quintile of the EQ-VAS scores in the stroke group were estimated with a complex-samples logistic regression model. RESULTS: Socio-demographic, anthropometric factors, and clinical comorbidities significantly differed between the stroke and non-stroke groups, except regarding gender and residential area. The EQ-VAS was significantly lower in the stroke than non-stroke group. Anxiety/depression problems significantly lowered EQ-VAS, as did low education level, smoking, mobility and usual activities problems. Also, aging in 1-year increments and cardiovascular disease had a significant effect on lower EQ-VAS in stroke survivors. CONCLUSION: People with a stroke have significantly lower HR-QoL than healthy subjects. Therefore, managing depression, smoking, or cardiovascular disease and maintenance of physical function may be priority goals in improving HR-QoL after a stroke.

Living as Severe COPD Patient: Life of Stepping on the Thin Ice / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences of patients with a severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: The data were collected through in-depth interviews of six patients suffering from severe COPD. The interviewed data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. The Giorgi method of phenomenology was used for analyzing data. RESULTS: Eight themes forming the, units of meaning, were: Repeated and Unpredictable Suffering of Dyspnea, Confidence Loss/Exhaustion Life due to non-efficient breathing, Gradually Deprived Liberty, Absolute Being to Sustaining my life, Source of Burden but Significant Person I am in the Family, Endless Tug-of-War-Capability/Endeavor to Breath, Longing for my Life, and Dead-end of breathing. CONCLUSION: The study results provide an in-depth understanding of life experiences of patients suffering from severe COPD. The findings will be useful to nurses caring for this population.