Prevalence, Pattern and Impact of Depression on Quality of Life of Stroke Survivors

Abstract Objective. This study documented the incidence, pattern and impact of depression on QoL of stroke-survivors within 6-month post-stroke. Methods. This study involved 65 stroke survivors consecutively recruited at ictus from a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. The National Institute of Health Stroke-Scale, Stroke-Specific Quality-of-Life (SSQOL), international classification of diseases (tenth edition) and Center for Epidemiological Scale-Depression (CES-D) were administered at ictus to assess stroke-severity, QoL and depression respectively. The SSQOL, ICD-10 and CES-D were subsequently administered every other week for 6 months. Data were treated using Spearman's correlation coefficient, Mann-Whitney U-test and multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis (P=0.05). Results. Participants were age 58.1±15.7 years; 38 and 27 hemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke respectively. Twenty-six (40%) and 60.0% had moderate and severe stroke, respectively. The QoL at post-stroke periods were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by depression, age, marital status, spouse supports, stroke-severity, and educational-attainment. Depression determined (P<0.05) poor QoL in stroke-survivors. Co-morbidity with stroke severity was a determinant (P<0.05) of poor QoL and death. The haemorrhagic stroke survivors had significantly higher (P<0.05) QoL at post-stroke periods. Conclusion. Depression is associated with stroke. It is common within the first 6 months post-stroke and has negative impact on quality of life of stroke-survivors.