Long-term health states relevant to young persons with stroke living in the community in southern Stockholm – a study of self-rated disability and predicting factors

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose was to explore self-rated long-term disability and to analyze whether initial stroke-related, personal and environmental factors can predict disability in a population-based sample of community-dwelling young (<65 years) persons suffering a stroke in 2000–2006. Method: Data on initial stroke-related, personal and environmental factors were retrieved from medical records. A study-specific posted questionnaire was used. Results: Of the 158 young persons with stroke, 78% had suffered a mild stroke. Tiredness was the most commonly reported mental impairment (86%) followed by impaired memory (67%). A majority reported limitations/restrictions in returning to leisure activities (58%) and work (52%). Stroke-related, personal and environmental factors failed to predict self-reported mental and physical impairments, but predicted activity limitations/participation restrictions with an acceptable power of accuracy (0.70–0.73) but a low sensitivity (0.28–0.59). Conclusions: A majority of these young persons were diagnosed with a mild stroke but experienced long-term mental impairments and activity limitations/participation restrictions that could not be predicted by initial stroke-related, personal and environmental factors solely. Therefore, regular long-term assessments irrespective of initial stroke severity are warranted in order to identify disabilities and improve the state of health among young persons with stroke when needed.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• A majority of young persons with stroke are diagnosed with a mild stroke but experience long-term disability that cannot be predicted by initial stroke-related factors solely.

• Regular long-term assessments are warranted in order to identify disabilities and improve the state of health among young persons with stroke.

Keywords::

• Stroke
• young persons
• disability
• Sweden

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all the young persons with stroke who participated in this study; Södersjukhuset for the approval of identification of the young persons with stroke; the stroke nurse Anna Berg and colleagues at the department of general medicine and neurology for enabling the collection of data from the medical records. We also wish to thank the Swedish stroke association; Stroke-Riksförbundet; the Centre of Health Care Science; KID funding (Karolinska Instititutet faculty funds for partial financing of new doctoral student); and PickUp funding at the Stockholm County Council for their financial support.

Declaration of interest: There are no conflicts of interest. Financial support was given by the Swedish stroke association; Stroke-Riksförbundet; the Centre of Health Care Science; KID funding (Karolinska Instititutet faculty funds for partial financing of new doctoral student); and PickUp funding at the Stockholm County Council.