ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Worldwide, cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute myocardial infarction and strokes, lead to significant fatalities. Survivors often experience profound impacts on various aspects of their lives, making the assessment of their Quality of Life crucial for understanding their condition and adaptation to the illness. METHODS: A community-based, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to compare how survivors of stroke and acute myocardial infarction perceive their Quality of Life. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered to 204 acute myocardial infarction and stroke survivors. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were also compared. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were noted in overall, physical, and psychological aspects of Quality of Life between the two groups, with stroke survivors consistently showing lower values in these dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: The Quality-of-Life perception of stroke and acute myocardial infarction survivors may be affected by several sociodemographic and clinical factors, and the results support the idea that the vascular event conditions the person's Quality of Life, particularly in variables related to the person's physical condition, functionality, and autonomy.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: the perception of Quality of Life (QoL) has been used to evaluate the treatment and evolution of several pathologies. QoL evaluation allows a better understanding of the patient and his adaptation to the disease. An observational, community-based and descriptive correlational study was carried out to analyze stroke survivors' perception of QoL. METHODS: consecutive case-series of stroke survivors (≥3 months) followed in a single public primary health center ("Tavira Primary Health Centre") from Algarve, southern Portugal. The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of life instrument was administered in 102 stroke survivors. RESULTS: Perception of QoL was associated (p < 0.05) with specific sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, academic training), economic (monthly family income) and clinical factors (number of vascular risk factors, type of stroke, evolution, chronic mRankin score). On multivariate analysis, chronic mRankin score on physical (R2 = 0.406; F = 8.757; p < 0.001), psychological (R2 = 0.286; F = 5.536; p < 0.001) and general domain (R2 = 0.357; F = 7.287; p < 0.001); and family income (R2 = 0.160; F = 3.156; p < 0.005) on environmental domain, emerged as predictors of QoL. CONCLUSION: Different socio-demographic, economic and health factors are associated with post-stroke QoL. Description of QoL contributes to the overall evaluation of the impact of stroke on health and should be a priority for health professionals.
