Determinants of health-related quality of life in stroke survivors in Kano, Northwest Nigeria

Background: The long-term consequences of stroke, particularly among the young and middle-aged population in sub-Saharan Africa, constitute a major challenge to the labor work force in resource-limited settings. Previous studies have focused mainly on mortality, recurrence, and functional recovery but less on the quality of life of these patients. We sought to assess the determinants of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of stroke survivors in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: A prospective case–control study conducted at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria over a period of 18 months where 310 (155 patients with stroke and 155 sex- and age-matched healthy controls) participants were assessed using the health-related quality of life in stroke patient-40 (HRQoLISP-40) questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the independent predictors of global HRQoL after controlling for other covariates. Results: The overall mean global HRQoL scores among the patients with stroke and the controls were 66.1 vs. 86.1, respectively, with a mean difference of −20.0. There mean difference in the physical and spiritual spheres were −28.1 vs. −9.1, respectively. Determinants of the poor quality of life in the stroke survivors were aphasia, lesion location, and poststroke depression. Conclusion: The HRQoL among the stroke survivors was poor, which demonstrates that the determinants if effectively subjected to evidenced-based therapeutic interventions may lead to improvement in their overall functional recovery and societal reintegration.