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Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Author Spotlight: Rehabilitation of Stroke Patients With a Digital Occupational Training System
Published on: December 29, 2023
Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes Among Post-Stroke Patients in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia: Associations With
Yasser M Kofiah1, Turki Alkully2, Batol M Albanghali3
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Al-Baha University Al Baha Saudi Arabia.
Background And Aim:
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of long-term disability worldwide, profoundly impacting patients' quality of life (QoL) and functional independence. This study aimed to assess quality of life (QoL) and functional outcomes among post-stroke patients in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, and to examine their associations with demographic, clinical, and rehabilitation factors.
Methods:
This study assessed QoL and functional outcomes among 125 post-stroke patients in Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia, from April 2023 to May 2024 at King Fahad Hospital. Quality of life (QoL) was evaluated using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L), while functional outcomes were measured with the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Associations of sociodemographic and clinical variables with QoL and functional outcomes were analyzed using chi-square tests.
Results:
The mean QoL score was 14 ± 4.57, indicating moderate impairment. Mobility and pain/discomfort were the most impacted dimensions, with 12% and 37% of participants reporting extreme issues, respectively. Self-rated health revealed that 45% of participants considered themselves 'excellent' health, while 19% rated their health as 'poor' (p < 0.001). Younger participants (18-30 years) reported better QoL (p = 0.025). Functional outcomes revealed that 59% had favorable mRS scores (0-2), while 41% had poor outcomes (3-6). Physiotherapy utilization was associated with functional outcomes, but poorer outcomes were observed among recipients likely due to selection bias. (p = 0.047) but not with QoL scores.
Conclusions:
Findings highlight mobility limitations and pain/discomfort as the most affected dimensions of quality of life. Younger patients demonstrated better outcomes, while physiotherapy was associated with functional status, likely reflecting baseline severity rather than treatment effect. These results emphasize the importance of targeted, individualized rehabilitation strategies for post-stroke populations.
