Functional Disability After Ischemic Stroke: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Shanghai, China

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide.
• Understanding the health status of stroke survivors is crucial for effective rehabilitation.
• Community-based programs require data on functional, cognitive, and emotional well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess demographics, functional disability, cognitive impairment, and depression in stroke patients.
• To explore correlations between functional disability and other health conditions.
• To inform community rehabilitation strategies for stroke survivors.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 305 ischemic stroke patients (1 month to 2 years post-stroke).
• Data collected via face-to-face interviews on sociodemographics, vascular risks, cognitive function (MMSE), and depression (PHQ-9).
• Functional status assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS); data analyzed using SPSS 24.0.

Main Results:

• Patients with higher mRS scores (disability) showed significantly lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.
• Increased disability (mRS 2-5) was associated with lower MMSE scores and higher Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) depression scores.
• Higher mRS scores were also linked to a history of previous stroke.

Conclusions:

• Functional independence in stroke survivors is significantly associated with cognitive function.
• Depression and a history of previous strokes are correlated with lower functional independence.
• These findings underscore the importance of addressing cognitive and emotional health in stroke rehabilitation.