Stroke survivors’ priorities for research related to life after stroke

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow-chart of patients included in study

Table 1. Baseline characteristics

	responders (n = 589)	non-responders (n = 137)	Riksstroke 2018
Sex, female	39 (190)	36 (50)	46%
Age, % ≥70	68	45
Age at onset of stroke, median (min-max), years	72 (20–92)	68 (27–95)	75
Married	54 (318)	34 (47)
Single	12 (71)	19 (26)
Widow/widower	13 (74)	15 (20)
Separated/divorced	7 (39)	11 (15)
Partner	13 (77)	18 (24)
Other	2 (10)	4 (5)
Living alone	33 (197)	44 (61)	47%
Living together with someone	66 (391)	55 (76)
Nursing homes	0	0	8%
Other	0.4 (1)	0
Diabetes	18 (108)	24 (33)	23%
Previous coronary heart disease	15 (91)	15 (21)
Previous stroke	16 (95)	16 (22)	21%
Previous intracranial hemorrhage/	2 (13)	4 (6)
Facial paresis	44 (261)	54 (60)
Upper limb paresis	67 (393)	73 (82)
Lower limb paresis	57 (335)	69 (77)
Aphasia	17 (100)	14 (16)
Homonymous hemianopsia	11 (63)	14 (16)
Visuospatial symptoms	12 (72)	13 (14)
Brainstem and cerebellar symptoms	19 (112)	12 (13)
Other neurological defects	20 (115)	20 (22)
NIHSS points sum, median (min-max)	3 (0–18)	4 (0–24)	3
MOCA total score, median (min-max)	24 (1–30)	24 (3–30)
Ischemic Stroke	89 (524)	81 (110)	86%
Intra Cerebral Haemorrage	11 (64)	19 (26)	13%
Unknown	0.2 (1)	1 (1)
Time stroke onset to questionnaire, median (min-max), months	27 (14–48)	27 (14–48)

Presented as % (n) if not indicated otherwise. NIHSS, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. MoCA, Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Figure 2. Number of answers on each research area. Each patient was asked to prioritize two areas. Thirty-one patients chose more than two areas, five patients only chose one area. All priorities are presented in the figure

Table 2. Differences in priorities between younger (<70 years) and elderly (≥70 years) patients with stroke

Area of research	<70, % (n)	≥70, % (n)	p-value
1. Speech difficulties	5 (9)	10 (38)	0.045*
2. Balance-, walking difficulties	40 (76)	54 (214)	0.002**
3. Cognition and memory function	16 (30)	18 (73)	0.45
4. Visual problems	11(20)	10 (41)	0.93
5. Aphasia	12 (23)	20 (59)	0.38
6. Upper and lower limb problems	28 (53)	28 (110)	0.93
7. Post-stroke fatigue	45 (85)	22 (88)	<0.001***
8. The impact of physical exercise on rehabilitation	20 (38)	24 (95)	0.30
9. The impact of lifestyle to avoid a new stroke	16 (31)	20 (81)	0.25
10. Depression/anxiety	8 (16)	11 (43)	0.37
Other	6 (11)	11 (43)	0.05

* = significant difference. Chi2-analysis. Percentages are counted as number of answers within the group (<70 or ≥70).