Post-Stroke Survivors: The Relationship between Clinical Characteristics and the Levels of Depression

Stroke is frequently associated with long-term disability. Stroke leads to high risk of physical and neuropsychological consequences. Residual disabilities among post-stroke survivors can lead them to depression. This study aimed to determine the relationship between clinical characteristics and the levels of depression among post-stroke survivors at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. This cross-sectional study recruited 195 post-stroke survivors who attended follow-up Rehabilitation Clinic of a teaching hospital over a study period of 4 months. Information collected included socio-demographic, clinical characteristics (post stroke duration, stroke types and stroke severities) and level of depression. Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to assess the level of depression. The mean age of participants was 61 years (SD=13.86, range: 22-87 years), with 118 male and 81 female survivors having a median duration of post-stroke of 12 months (range: 1–79 months). This study showed post stroke survivors 116 (59.5%) with depression. A Chi-square test for level of stroke severity was significantly associated with depression, χ2 (2, n=195) = 28.724, p<0.001, phi = 0.384. The results of the present study showed that survivors with mild stroke had less depression (44.0%) compared to moderate stroke (81.7%) and severe stroke (87.5%).

Functional Status of Post Stroke Survivors

Globally, stroke is the commonest cause of long-term disability. The residual disabilities among post stroke patients affect their daily living activities. The aim of rehabilitation therapy is to help stroke survivors to gain back their functional ability. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between post stroke duration with functionality status of post-stroke survivals at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. A cross-sectional study involved one hundred nine five post stroke patients who attended the Rehabilitation Clinic over a 4-month period. The data on post stroke duration was reveale from patient’s cleckship. Their functional status was assessed with Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results showed the mean age of participants was 61 years (SD=13.86, range:22-87 years), with 118 males and 81 females having a median duration of 12 months post-stroke (range: 1–79 months). The prevalence 123 (63.1%) of stroke survivors are found to be dependent in their daily living activity. A Chi-square test for independence indicated there was significant relationship between post-stroke duration with levels of functioning, χ2 (2 , n=195) = 6.455, p<0.05,phi = 0.182. Patients in post-stroke duration of 13-24 months were independent (52.1) than ≤ 12 months and ≥ 24 months.