Taiwan Poststroke Disability Study: A Study Protocol

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Taiwan, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its long-term impacts.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and progression of poststroke disabilities across motor, swallowing, cognitive, emotional, epilepsy, and quality-of-life domains.

This multicenter, prospective cohort study will recruit 2000 acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients from 14 major hospitals in Taiwan. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months poststroke using validated tools, questionnaires, imaging, and blood biomarkers (ClinicalTrials registered no: NCT06772194).

Key outcomes include motor function recovery, prevalence of dysphagia, cognitive impairment, poststroke depression, and epilepsy, as well as quality-of-life measures. Advanced imaging techniques and biomarker analyses, including genome-wide association studies, will explore predictors of disability and recovery.

This study seeks to address gaps in stroke recovery research by integrating clinical and biological data to enhance personalized stroke management. T-PODS is expected to inform strategies for reducing disability and improving long-term outcomes for stroke survivors in Taiwan, contributing to the global effort to optimize stroke care and rehabilitation.