A Study to Analyze the Effect of Side of Hemiparesis on Quality of Life in Subacute Stroke Patients

Stroke is a serious condition associated with a high mortality rate and severe disability affecting all aspects of an individual's life. Current stroke outcome assessments are often limited to the resulting neurological impairment and functional disability, neglecting to evaluate the total influence of the event on a patient's wellbeing. Quality of life has been defined with various modalities e.g. health related subjective experiences, life satisfaction and subjective wellbeing. However improving the Quality of Life (QOL) of stroke patients has received increasing attention in the development of therapeutic strategies. This study was designed evaluate the effect of Side of Hemiparesis on Quality of Life in sub acute stage of stroke.

To analyse the effct of Side Of Hemiparesis on Quality Of Life hemiparesis in patients of sub-acute phase of stroke.

Sixty diagnosed middle cerebral artery stroke patients were recruited and divided into two groups. Group A consisted of right hemiparetic patients and Group B consisted of left hemiparetic patients. Patients of these two groups were assessed for Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living by using Stroke Specific Quality of Life scale and Barthel Index.

On assessing the two variables, it was that in Group A (right hemiparesis) and Group B (left hemiparesis) the mean score for Stroke Specfic Quality Of Life was 158.6 and 178.6 respectively (t-value 419; p< 0.01). In Group A (right hemiparesis) and Group B (left hemiparesis) the mean score for Barthel Index was 16.4 and 18.2 respectively (t-value 3.66;p< 0.01). A positive correlation was found between Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living in both the groups. In right hemiparesis the correlation coefficient between Quality of Life and Activities of daily Living was r= 0.57 while in left hemiparesis the correlation coefficient between Quality of Life and Activities of Daily Living was r=0.73. Patients with right hemiparesis were found to be having poorer Quality of life as compared to patients with left hemiparesis. Communication, mobility, self-care and upper extremity functions were mostly affected, and was the most important reason for impaired Quality of Life in patients with right hemiparesis

Stroke affects Quality of life, impairing its physical and self-care domains. The most important determinant of low QOL seem to be upper extremity function, mobility and self-care. Theses finding provide a new challenge for stroke rehabilitation, calling for identification of patients and spouses in need of supportive services.