Profile and health-related quality of life of Ghanaian stroke survivors

• Published in: Clinical Interventions in Aging
• Main Authors: Donkor,Eric S, Owolabi,Mayowa O, Bampoh,Patrick O, Amoo,Philip K, Aspelund,Thor, Gudnason,Vilmundur
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Press 2014
• Subjects: Clinical Interventions in Aging; Reykjavík; Iceland
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/profile-and-health-related-quality-of-life-of-ghanaian-stroke-survivor-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CIA

Eric S Donkor,1,2 Mayowa O Owolabi,3 Patrick O Bampoh,4 Philip K Amoo,5 Thor Aspelund,2,6 Vilmundur Gudnason2,61College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; 2Centre for Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland; 3Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria; 4Tamale Central Hospital, Tamale, Ghana; 5Public Health Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana; 6Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute, Kopavogur, IcelandBackground: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality with a major effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There are no previous studies exploring HRQoL among stroke survivors in Ghana, despite the increasing public health significance of the disease in this country. Here we describe the profile of and factors associated with HRQoL among stroke survivors in Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 156 stroke survivors and 156 ­age- and sex-matched, apparently healthy controls. A robust HRQoL questionnaire involving seven domains was used to collect data from the study participants. Clinical epidemiology data were also collected from stroke survivors on parameters such as stroke severity and risk factors. Statistical analyses were performed on the interrelationships among the study variables. Results: The mean ages of the stroke survivors and healthy controls were 58.0 (standard deviation, 11.4) and 57.6 (standard deviation, 12.0) years, respectively. Fifty-three percent (86) of the stroke survivors had mild stroke and 35.3% (55) had moderate stroke, whereas 12.2% (19) had severe stroke. Ischemic infarction was the prevalent stroke subtype (78.1%). ­Hypertension was the most common risk factor (89%) among the stroke survivors, followed by diabetes (29%). HRQoL scores ranged from 57.7% (cognitive domain) to 80.0% (spirit domain) for stroke survivors, whereas HRQoL scores of the control group ranged from 65.6% (cognitive domain) to 85.2% (soul domain). For each HRQoL domain, ...