Association of Proportional Recovery After Stroke With Health-Related Quality of Life.

Background and Purpose

No data exists on whether proportional recovery (PR) is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) domains. We evaluated whether PR was associated with domain-specific HRQOL scores at 3 months after ischemic stroke.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled patients with ischemic stroke between January 2017 and June 2018. Impaired strength was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity (range, 0–66 points) and Motricity Index (range, 0–100 points) during index hospitalization and 3 months. Both measures are well-validated and reliable in patients with stroke to assesses motor functioning. PR (defined as 70% of difference between initial score and maximum possible recovery) was calculated from the initial measurements. HRQOL was measured using Neuro-QOL domains: upper extremity, depression, and cognition domains. PR was evaluated with HRQOL domains using binomial logistic regression.

Results

Final analysis included 84 patients (mean age 67.8±16.4 years; 44% male; 51.2% White). For both Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity and Motricity Index, the PR threshold was met for 48.8% of patients. Failure to meet Motricity Index PR was only associated with increased odds of HRQOL depression impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 11.8 [95% CI, 1.23–112.7]). Failure to meet Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity PR threshold was not associated with HRQOL impairment after adjustment.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that reaching the PR threshold provides poor discrimination of HRQOL. Despite not meeting expected PR thresholds, patients can still maintain un-impaired HRQOL, suggesting other factors play a role in preserved HRQOL.