Background

Stroke is a major cause of disability worldwide, significantly affecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite increasing survival rates, limited research exists on the relationship between stroke severity and HRQoL in Nigeria. This study examines the association between stroke severity and HRQoL among stroke survivors at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Nigeria.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between January and November 2023 among 252 stroke survivors attending neurology and physiotherapy clinics at UITH. Stroke severity was assessed using the Stroke Levity Scale (SLS) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), while HRQoL was measured using the HRQOLISP-40 questionnaire. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. SPSS version 23.0 was used for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, regression analysis, and ANOVA. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean age of participants was 61.1 ± 15.4 years, with 61.9% being male. Stroke severity was significantly associated with lower HRQoL, particularly in the physical (p=0.001), psycho-emotional (p=0.003), cognitive (p=0.005), and eco-social (p=0.012) domains. The spiritual domain was unaffected (p=0.345). Socio-demographic factors such as return to work (p=0.009), source of income (p=0.012), and physiotherapy costs (p=0.017) significantly influenced HRQoL.

Conclusion

Stroke severity has a profound impact on HRQoL, underscoring the need for comprehensive rehabilitation, financial assistance, and psychosocial support to improve stroke survivors' quality of life.

Keywords: Stroke; Health-Related Quality of Life; Rehabilitation; Stroke Severity; Socio-economic Factors.