ABSTRACT
The study investigated cognitive impairment and quality of life (QOL) among 109 consecutive stroke survivors and 109 normal controls. Each group comprised 64 (58.7%) men and 45 (41.3%) women. The modified Mini Mental State Examination (mMMSE) and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bréf) indicated that 19 (17.4%) stroke survivors had cognitive deficits (mMMSE score <16) compared with 5 (4.6%) control participants (chi1(2)=4.27, p<.05). Control participants performed significantly better on orientation, language comprehension, laterality, and the WHOQOL-Bréf. Being GHQ-30 positive predicted poor performance on the mMMSE among the stroke survivors and reduced QOL on three of the four domains of the WHOQOL-Bréf. In addition, previous psychiatric illness, paresis, low education, and shorter time elapsed after a stroke predicted reduced QOL on one or more domains of the WHOQOL-Bréf but age and sex of the stroke survivors were not associated with quality of life, and not with cognitive function.
