Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Related Factors in Survivors of Stroke in Rural China: A Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study

Quality of life and associated factors among people with chronic diseases in Hubei, China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases are a major threat to human health, substantially reducing quality of life (QOL). Since the COVID-19 pandemic there have been surprisingly few surveys specifically focusing on the QOL of individuals living with chronic diseases. This study addresses this gap and assesses the QOL and associated factors of those with chronic diseases in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in six cities of Hubei Province, China, from May to August 2021, using a multi-stage cluster sampling technique to select 1,560 study participants. A 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) Scale assessed QOL. Multivariate linear regression analyses and the Shapley decomposition technique identified related factors and the extent of contribution to QOL.

RESULTS

We enjoyed a very high response rate to our invitation to participate; of these 1,507 questionnaires were considered valid (96.6%), and of these 354 patients reported a chronic disease (23.5%). The Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS) among respondents were 59.13 ± 20.17 and 71.14 ± 13.55, respectively. The results of the regression analysis indicated that those who were 60 years or older and reported a recent acute illness in the immediate two-week period prior to survey were more likely to exhibit poorer PCS, whereas those with annual income of 30,000-100,000 Yuan, engaged in regular exercise and reported having eating regularly (regular eating to encourage relatively stable blood sugar levels as opposed to irregular meals/eating) were more likely to have higher PCS. Those reporting an acute illness in the immediate two-week period prior to survey also had lower MCS, but this was mitigated if the person had medical insurance, an annual income of 50,001-100,000 Yuan, regularly exercised, and a more nutritious diet. The Shapley decomposition results revealed that factors such as age (31.2%), income (24.8%), the presence of an illness in the immediate two-week period prior to survey (14.8%), regular meals (13.5%), regular physical exercise (10%), and alcohol consumption (5.7%) contributed to improved PCS, whereas the factors associated with improved MCS included regular meals (33.8%), length of illness/recovery of two-weeks (23%), comparatively higher annual income (16.2%), regular physical exercise (13.9%), and access to medical insurance (11.1%).

CONCLUSION

The QOL of those with chronic disease in our study sample was significantly lower than those of healthy individuals. Higher annual income, regular physical exercise, the presence of an acute illness in the immediate two-week period prior to survey, consistent meal routines, adequate medical insurance and age were influencing factors of QOL for those with chronic diseases. Countermeasures should be implemented to promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen the prevention and control of chronic diseases.

Patient centered outcomes in stroke: utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale results in a community-based study

Background and aims

The transformation of modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores based on the corresponding utilities of health-related quality of life questionnaires can facilitate the capture of Patient-Centered Outcomes (PCO) in stroke. We aimed to derive utility-weighted modified Rankin Scale (UW-mRS) values by mapping mRS functional status to EQ-5D-3L scores in a population-based cohort of stroke patients.

Methods

The UW-mRS was obtained by analyzing the EQ5-D-3 L and mRS scores at 180 days after any stroke in the ÑANDU study, a large prospective community-based study in Chile. The mRS prediction was estimated using a linear regression adjusted by the EQ-5D-3L value. Generalized linear and binary logistic regression models were constructed to determine influencing factors of the UW-mRS, using STATA software (version 18.0).

Results

We included 773 patients presenting with any stroke during 2015–2016: 48% were female, with a mean age of 71 years (SD 13.8), and 85% had an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). 82% of patients had a low socioeconomic status, 50% had less than 12 years of formal education, and only 32% lived in urban areas. UW-mRS values for mRS categories 0–6 at 180 days were 0.913, 0.694, 0.425, 0.249, −0.102, −0.347 and 0, respectively. Multivariable analysis identified age > 70 years (Coefficient β [β] -0.038 [Standard error SE 0.018], p = 0.032), prior mRS score 3–5 (β −0.556 [SE 0.197], p < 0.001), ischemic stroke (β −0.066 [SE 0.025], p = 0.010), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at admission>5 (β −0.015 [SE 0.002], p < 0.001) as significant predictors of worse UW-mRS scores (R2 = 70%) in the overall group. Sex-disaggregated analysis showed that age > 70 years was a significant predictor in males (β −0.069 [SE 0.024], p = 0.006), while presenting an AIS had a greater impact on female’s worse UW-mRS score (β −0.087 [SE 0.033], p = 0.010).

Conclusion

These results present UW-mRS values derived from a population-based stroke study. Key determinants of health-related quality of life in post-stroke patients included age, prior disability, and stroke severity. Sex-disaggregated analysis revealed age being significant for males and AIS for females. Incorporating PCO as UW-mRS in stroke research can provide a more nuanced understanding of the impact of stroke on survivors, offering valuable insights for clinical decision-making and rehabilitation strategies across diverse healthcare contexts.

The impacts of a healthy lifestyle on the physical and mental health status of female stroke survivors in Australia

INTRODUCTION

This longitudinal study aimed to explore the impacts of adopting a healthy lifestyle on self-reported physical and mental health outcomes among Australian females who are living with stroke.

METHODS

The study utilized data retrieved from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health's 1946-51 cohort (from survey 5 conducted in 2007 to survey 9 conducted in 2019), focusing on 531 female stroke survivors. The dependent variables for this study were self-reported physical and mental health status, whereas the independent variables were lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and supplement use. Generalized Estimating Equation models were employed to assess the longitudinal associations between a dependent variable and the independent and confounding variables.

RESULTS

The average age of the participants was 58.1 (SD = 1.4) years in survey 5 and 70.5 years in survey 9. The longitudinal analyses revealed that stroke survivors who engaged in moderate/high levels of physical activity had significantly better physical and mental health status than their inactive or sedentary counterparts. Besides, current smokers had significantly poorer physical and mental health status than nonsmokers. In addition, risky/high-risk alcohol consumers had significantly poorer mental health status compared to no/low-risk alcohol consumers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that post-stroke individuals can improve their physical and mental health by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Specifically, targeted and appropriate programs and strategies are needed to promote physical activity and reduce smoking and alcohol consumption in female stroke survivors in order to optimize their overall health and quality of life.

Psychometric Testing of the Thai Version of Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory Version 4c in Patients With Stroke

BACKGROUND

Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 4c is a non-disease-specific self-care measure used in individuals with multiple chronic conditions. This instrument may be applied to patients with specific diseases such as stroke.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 4c in patients with stroke.

METHODS

This multicenter, cross-sectional study adhered to the COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) guidelines and enrolled patients with stroke from 16 primary care centers in southern Thailand. Structural validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency reliability using Cronbach α coefficient and global reliability index, and test-retest reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients.

RESULTS

The final analysis included a total of 350 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the 2-factor Self-Care Maintenance scale structure, although the item allocation to the dimensions differed from that of the original model. The Self-Care Monitoring scale demonstrated a 1-factor structure with permitted residual covariance. The Self-Care Management scale maintained a 2-factor structure, similar to that of the original model. Simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis of the combined items supported the general model with the 3 scales. The Self-Care Maintenance scale exhibited marginally adequate α (0.68) and ω (0.66) coefficients, and an adequate composite reliability index (0.79). The other 2 scales demonstrated adequate α (range, 0.79-0.86), ω (range, 0.75-0.86), and composite reliability (range, 0.83-0.86) indices. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed adequate test-retest reliability for all scales (range, 0.76-0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The generic self-care measure, Self-Care of Chronic Illness Inventory version 4c, demonstrated strong psychometric properties in patients with stroke. This instrument may be a valuable tool for assessing stroke self-care in Thailand.

Effects of chronic diseases on health related quality of life is mediated by sleep difficulty in middle aged and older adults

Middle-aged and older adults with chronic diseases are more likely to encounter sleep difficulty and have a reduced Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), but there is little research on their possible mechanisms. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to explore how sleep difficulty mediates the impact of chronic diseases on the HRQoL of middle-aged and older adults. The survey data were from a cross-sectional study carried out in 2019 in Hangzhou, China. We used a multi-stage cluster random sampling method to recruit participants from seven districts in Hangzhou. Multiple regression was used to analyze the relationship between chronic diseases, sleep difficulty and HRQoL. And the mediate package in the R language was used to analyze the mediating effect. A total of 3,550 middle-aged and older adults were enrolled, including 2,273 patients with chronic diseases and 1,277 patients without them. Patients with chronic diseases had lower health utility values (β=-0.0084, P < 0.01) and were more likely to suffer from sleep difficulty (β = 0.5737, P < 0.001). After correcting for demographic and life characteristics, the mediation analysis results indicated that sleep difficulty mediated the relationship between chronic diseases and HRQoL (β=-0.0022, 95% Bca CI: -0.0034 -0.0014). Additionally, sleep difficulty influenced the association between chronic diseases and daily activities as well as pain (or discomfort) (β = 0.0083, 95% Bca CI: 0.0042-0.0111; β = 0.0162, 95% Bca CI: 0.0107-0.0225) in the analysis of the dimensions. Sleep difficulty partially mediated the relationship between chronic diseases and HRQoL, and primarily in the daily activities and pain (or discomfort) dimensions in middle-aged and older adults.

Health-related quality of life in chronic stroke: Translation and validation of the Romanian stroke and aphasia quality of life scale-39 g (RO-SAQOL-39 g) questionnaire

In the clinical context of stroke, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a crucial patient-reported outcome measure that is frequently used to assess the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation programs. Despite its significance, the absence of a stroke-specific quality-of-life instrument translated into Romanian and validated for use in Romanian stroke patients, including those with aphasia, presents a notable gap in current research. This study briefly describes the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale-39 g (SAQOL-39 g) into Romanian (RO-SAQOL-39 g). Subsequently, the results of a prospective cohort study on psychometric validation of the RO-SAQOL-39 g are presented. In enrolled stroke patients, measures such as the Barthel Index, HRQOL, and indices of stroke severity including NIHSS, MRC scale for Muscle Strength, and mRS were used. The RO-SAQOL-39 g exhibited excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95 for total score) and repeatability (ICC = 0.96). Moreover, the RO-SAQOL-39 g demonstrated utility as a metric of stroke burden in differentiating between mild and moderate-to-severe stroke, as assessed by NIHSS scores (p = 0.004). In summary, the RO-SAQOL-39 g exhibits promising attributes as a tool for assessing HRQOL in post-stroke individuals.

Changes of health-related quality of life within 6 months after stroke by clinical and sociodemographic factors

Stroke causes functional disabilities and reduces the quality of life of stroke survivors. This retrospective cohort study aimed to examine changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) six months after a stroke and the effect of stroke characteristics and sociodemographic factors on HRQoL. Participants completed a questionnaire that included the stroke characteristics, sociodemographic characteristics, and the 5-level European Quality of Life 5 dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) before discharge. Follow-up assessments of HRQoL were performed at one, three, and six months after discharge. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed models were used for data analyses. A total of 155 first-stroke patients were included, of which N = 152 patients completed follow-up assessments until six months. The mean EQ-5D-5L index score at discharge was 0.69 (SD 0.33). The trends of HRQoL significantly increased from discharge to three months, but there was no significant HRQoL improvement after three months. Considering stroke severity, mean HRQoL significantly improved for patients with no stroke symptoms, minor stroke, and moderate stroke (p < 0.05) but not those with severe stroke (p = 0.156). HRQoL among patients with sufficient monthly income significantly increased over six months (p < 0.05). HRQoL among patients with severe stroke and having insufficient income were poor. Supportive programs are required to improve their HRQoL.

Healthy diet habits attenuate the association of poor sleep quality with nonfatal ischemic stroke: A prospective rural cohort

OBJECTIVES

The combined impact of sleep quality and diet habits on ischemic stroke remains unclear, particularly in rural populations. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the individual and joint associations of sleep quality and diet habits with nonfatal ischemic stroke among rural adults.

METHODS

A total of 22 536 participants free of stroke were enrolled from the Henan Rural Cohort. Sleep quality and diet habits were evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and food frequency questionnaire, respectively. The ischemic stroke incidence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Cox regression and restricted cubic spline were employed to estimate the correlation of sleep quality or diet habits with ischemic stroke.

RESULTS

During an average 3.92 y of follow-up, 665 ischemic stroke patients were identified. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of ischemic stroke risk compared with good sleep quality was 1.276 (1.057-1.542). The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of nonfatal ischemic stroke compared with unhealthy diet habits was 0.693 (0.589-0.814). The restricted cubic spline indicated that the risk of ischemic stroke increased with the increase of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. And the higher the diet quality score, the lower the risk of ischemic stroke. (Ptrend < 0.05). Further analysis indicated that the association of poor sleep quality with ischemic stroke was alleviated by healthy diet habits (P < 0.05). Additionally, a robust correlation remained after excluding individuals with ischemic stroke in the first year.

CONCLUSIONS

Poor sleep quality was positively associated with nonfatal ischemic stroke among rural adults, and healthy diet habits attenuated this relationship. Developing healthy diet and sleep habits may have potential health implications for preventing ischemic stroke.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (registration no. ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: July 6, 2015.

Nutrition-associated markers and outcomes among patients receiving enteral nutrition after ischemic stroke: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Early nutrition after acute ischemic stroke is crucial. We explored early enteral nutrition for stroke patients and evaluated changes in blood indicators as a predictor of stroke prognosis.

METHODS

All hospitalized stroke patients receiving enteral nutrition were included in the study. We retrospectively collected the protein, energy, fat, and carbohydrate values for 7 days after admission. Serum albumin, total protein, and hemoglobin values were reviewed at admission and at one week. The main outcome indicators were the Modified Rankin Score, Barthel Index, and Quality of Life at 3 months.

RESULTS

A total of 354 patients (mean age, 70.7 years; 59.0% male) were included. The change in serum albumin at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Quality of Life score (p = 0.001), the Barthel Index (p = 0.004), and the modified Rankin Score (p = 0.029). The change in total protein at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Quality of Life score (p = 0.002), the Barthel Index (p = 0.001), and the modified Rankin score (p = 0.011). The change in hemoglobin values at day 7 relative to at admission was positively correlated with the Barthel Index (p = 0.037 but not with the Quality of Life score (p = 0.237) or the modified Rankin score (p = 0.730).

CONCLUSIONS

Improved nutrition-related blood indicators one week after admission were independently associated with good stroke outcomes. Nutritional support for acute ischemic stroke patients during the early hospitalization stage appears to be advisable.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This review was a retrospective cohort study. The study was retrospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No: ChiCTR2300077228). Registration date: 1/11/2023.

Sex-Related Differences in Post-Stroke Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life in a Cohort of Smokers

BACKGROUND

We aimed to study anxiety, depression and quality of life in smokers after stroke by sex.

METHODS

A longitudinal prospective study with a 24-month follow-up of acute stroke patients who were previously active smokers. Anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, and quality of life was evaluated with the EQ-5D questionnaire.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty patients participated (79.4% men); their mean age was 57.6 years. Anxiety was most prevalent at 3 months (18.9% in men and 40.5% in women) and depression at 12 months (17.9% in men and 27% in women). The worst perceived health occurred at 24 months (EQ-VAS 67.5 in men and 65.1 in women), which was associated with depression (p < 0.001) and Rankin Scale was worse in men (p < 0.001) and depression in women (p < 0.001). Continued tobacco use was associated with worse perceived health at 3 months in men (p = 0.034) and at 12 months in both sexes. Predictor variables of worse perceived health at 24 months remaining at 3 and 12 months were tobacco use in men and neurological damage in women.

CONCLUSION

Differences by sex are observed in the prevalence of anxiety and depression and associated factors and in the predictive factors of perceived health.

Prevalence and influencing factors of malnutrition in stroke patients with bulbar paralysis: a cross-sectional study in China

Background

Although malnutrition has been shown to influence the clinical outcomes of Stroke Patients with Bulbar Paralysis (SPBP), the prevalence and influencing factors have yet to be uncovered.

Objective

This study aims to assess the current prevalence and factors associated with malnutrition in SPBP.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional investigation was conducted among SPBP in China from 2019 to 2021. Information was collected on basic information, health condition, diagnosis, treatment, neurological function, activities of daily living, swallowing function, and nutritional status. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify the factors that influenced nutritional status. ROC analysis was used to assess the predictive value of each independent influencing factor and the logit model.

Results

In total, 774 SPBP were enrolled, and the prevalence of malnutrition was 60.59%. Pulmonary infection [aOR:2.849, 95%CI: (1.426, 5.691)], hemoglobin [aOR: 0.932, 95%CI: (0.875, 0.982)], serum albumin [aOR: 0.904, 95%CI: (0.871, 0.938)], total protein [aOR: 0.891, 95%CI: (0.819, 0.969)], prealbumin [aOR: 0.962, 95%CI: (0.932, 0.993)], and National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores [aOR: 1.228, 95%CI: (1.054, 1.431)] were independent factors associated with malnutrition in SPBP. ROC analysis revealed that the logit model had the best predictive value [area under the curve: 0.874, 95% CI: (0.812, 0.936); specificity: 83.4%; sensitivity: 79.3%; p < 0.05]. Subgroup analysis showed that the nutritional status in dysphagic SPBP was additionally influenced by swallowing function and nutrition support mode.

Conclusion

The prevalence of malnutrition in SPBP was 60.59%. Pulmonary infection, hemoglobin level, and NIHSS score were the independent factors associated with malnutrition. Swallowing function and nutrition support mode were the factors associated with malnutrition in dysphagic SPBP.

Gait speed at the acute phase predicted health-related quality of life at 3 and 12 months after stroke: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between acute-phase gait speed and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 3 and 12 months post-stroke.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS

1,475 patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke.

METHODS

The patients were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of gait speed, namely ≤0.8, 0.8-1.1, ≥1.1 m/s. Gait speed was assessed by the 10-m walking test within 2 weeks of hospitalization for acute stroke and before the rehabilitation programme. HRQoL measurements include the 3-level EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) index and EuroQoL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) scores. Linear and logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations between gait speed and HRQoL.

RESULTS

Adjusted for all covariates, the highest gait speed tertile group were associated with higher EQ-5D-3L index (B = 0.0303 and B = 0.0228, respectively, p < 0.001), and higher EQ-VAS (B = 3.3038 and B = 3.8877, respectively, p < 0.001), and lower odds of having problems with mobility (OR = 2.55 [95% CI: 0.141-0.458] and 0.485 [0.289-0.812], respectively, p < 0.01), self-care (OR = 0.328 [95% CI: 0.167-0.646] and 0.412 [0.217-0.784], respectively, p < 0.01), and usual activities (OR = 0.353 [95% CI: 0.211-0.590] and 0.325 [0.198-0.536], respectively, p < 0.0001) at 3 and 12 months, and pain/discomfort at 12 months (OR = 0.558 [95% CI:0.335-0.930], p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acute-phase gait speed was predictive of post-stroke HRQoL at 3 and 12 months, especially when associated with domain-specific EQ-5D-3L.

Value of the stroke 1-2-0 prehospital stroke education system: the experience of a general practitioner team

BACKGROUND

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in developing countries. In China, there is an urgent need to educate people about stroke awareness and the importance of using emergency medical services (EMS) quickly after a stroke has occurred.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to explore the effects of the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System based on the experience of a general practitioner team.

METHOD

We prospectively enrolled 119 community general practitioners to be trained in the procedures advocated by the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System. The training content included early detection of ischemic stroke, first aid for stroke, and intravenous thrombolysis; The effects of the training were later evaluated via a before-and-after comparison. The 119 enrolled physicians formed a Stroke 1-2-0 lecturer group and taught stroke knowledge to community residents. The group remained active for 6 months, during which the medical treatment data of stroke patients (i.e., stroke onset time, prehospital delay, whether an ambulance was called, and whether thrombolytic therapy was performed) in each of 5 jurisdictions were recorded for the month before (January 2021) and that after (August 2021) the 6-month community education program. Finally, the effects of the community education program were evaluated.

RESULTS

The participants' understanding of intravenous thrombolysis in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke improved significantly after the training as compared with their earlier understanding (96% vs. 78.99%; P < .001), and their understanding of the time window for intravenous thrombolysis increased from 26.05% before to 72% (P < .001) after the training. Most of the participants (90% vs. 67.23%; P < .001) said that they would immediately call the 120 emergency number of China's emergency phone system if they encountered individuals who appeared to be victims of acute stroke. A total of 82 stroke patients were seen before and 67 after the community education program. As for the use of the emergency call system, more patients with stroke activated that system after the program versus before (21.95% vs. 37.31%; P = .04). The 3-hour arrival rate after the program was nearly three times higher than that before the program (62.69% vs. 19.51%; P < .001). Also, regarding receiving thrombolysis after the occurrence of a stroke, the program triggered a substantial increase compared with the total earlier (19.4% vs. 6.1%; P = .013).

CONCLUSION

We found that the Stroke 1-2-0 Prehospital Stroke Education System significantly improved community residents' knowledge regarding stroke.

Predicting the relationship between anxiety and health-related quality of life in post-stroke patients: The role of sleep duration

OBJECTIVES

Sleep and psychological disorders are common complaints in stroke survivors. The effectiveness of sleep duration in post-stroke on mental well-being and health outcomes has been reported recently. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of sleep duration on the relationship between anxiety and health-related quality of life in Chinese post-stroke; MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a quantitative, cross-sectional study with participants recruited through a multistage, stratified, probability proportional to size sampling method. Anxiety, health-related quality of life, and sleep duration were measured by Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a self-administered, structured questionnaire. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify the association between anxiety, sleep duration, and quality of life. The direct and indirect effects of sleep duration on health-related quality of life was assessed using the bootstrap method via Model 4 (parallel mediation) of SPSS PROCESS macro; RESULTS: A total of 856 post-stroke patients participated in the study, and incidence of anxiety symptom amongst post-stroke was 33.53%. Sleep duration mainly plays partial mediating roles in the relationship between mild-to-moderate anxiety and quality of life in physical, psychological, and environment domains, with sleep duration of 7-8h playing a major role; CONCLUSIONS: A significant relationship among anxiety, sleep duration, and quality of life in post-stroke was found in this study. The sleep duration partially mediated the association between anxiety and quality of life. Suitable prevention methods and early interventions for sleep duration may improve the quality of life for post-stroke anxiety.

Socioeconomic status and health-related quality of life after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with stroke occurrence and survival following stroke but its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following stroke remains uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between SES and HRQoL after stroke.

METHODS

PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant cohort and case-control studies between January 2000 and May 2022. Two authors screened titles, abstracts and full text articles. One author extracted data from all included studies. Meta-analyses were performed for studies with comparable measurements of SES and HRQoL. Random effects models were used to estimate pooled summary standardised mean differences in HRQoL by SES.

RESULTS

Out of 1,876 citations, 39 studies incorporated measurement of overall HRQoL following stroke and were included in the systematic review, with 17 studies included in the meta-analyses. Overall, reports including education, income, occupation and work status effects on HRQoL after stroke were inconsistent among all included 39 studies. In the global meta-analysis of 17 studies, HRQoL among survivors of stroke was lower in the low SES group than in the high SES group (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.36, 95% CI -0.52, -0.20, p < 0.0001). When using education and income indicators separately, summary effects were similar to those of the global analysis (low versus high education SMD -0.38, 95% CI -0.57, -0.18, p < 0.0001; low versus high income SMD -0.39, 95% CI -0.59, -0.19, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Across all SES indicators, people with stroke who have lower SES have poorer overall HRQoL than those with higher SES. Accessibility and affordability of poststroke support services should be taken into consideration when planning and delivering services to people with low SES.

Diagnostic value of triglyceride-glucose index and related parameters in metabolism-associated fatty liver disease in a Chinese population: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Our study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of triglyceride-glucose (TyG) and its related parameters in metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study of residents who attended medical checkups at the First Hospital of Nanping City, Fujian Medical University, between 2015 and 2017.

SETTING

One participation centre.

PARTICIPANTS

2605 subjects met the inclusion-exclusion criteria and were grouped according to whether they had MAFLD.

RESULTS

The TyG index and its associated parameters are positively associated with the risk of developing MAFLD (p<0.001). Restriction cube spline analysis showed a significant dose-response relationship between the TyG index and MAFLD. The risk of developing MAFLD increases significantly with a higher TyG index. After adjusting for confounders, this relationship remains (OR: 4.89, 95% CI 3.98 to 6.00). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of the TyG index for MAFLD detection were 0.793 (0.774 to 0.812). The areas under the curve (AUC) of TyG-related parameters were improved, among which TyG-waist circumference (TyG-WC) showed the largest AUC for MAFLD detection (0.873, 95% CI 0.860 to 0.887). In addition, the best cut-off value of the TyG-WC was 716.743, with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 71.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The TyG index effectively identifies MAFLD, and the TyG-related parameters improved the identification and diagnosis of MAFLD, suggesting that TyG-related parameters, especially TyG-WC, may be a useful marker for diagnosing MAFLD.

Real-World Populational-Based Quality of Life and Functional Status After Stroke

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 3 months and 1 year after stroke, compare HRQoL between dependent (modified Rankin scale [mRS] 3-5) and independent (mRS 0-2) patients, and identify factors predictive of poor HRQoL.

METHODS

Patients with a first ischemic stroke or intraparenchymal hemorrhage from the Joinville Stroke Registry were analyzed retrospectively. Using the 5-level version of the EuroQol-5D questionnaire, HRQoL was calculated for all patients 3 months and 1 year after stroke, stratified by mRS score (0-2 or 3-5). One-year HRQoL predictors were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Three months after a stroke, data from 884 patients were analyzed; 72.8% were categorized as mRS 0-2 and 27.2% as mRS 3-5, and the mean HRQoL was 0.670 ± 0.256. At 1-year follow-up, 705 patients were evaluated; 75% were classified as mRS 0-2 and 25% as mRS 3-5, and the mean HRQoL was 0.71 ± 0.249. An increase in HRQoL was observed between 3 months and 1 year (mean difference 0.024, P < .0001), both in patients with 3-month mRS 0-2 (0.013, P = .027) and mRS 3-5 (0.052, P < .0001). Increasing age, female sex, hypertension, diabetes, and a high mRS were associated with poor HRQoL at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

This study described the HRQoL after a stroke in a Brazilian population. This analysis shows that the mRS was highly associated with HRQoL after stroke. Age, sex, diabetes, and hypertension were also associated with HRQoL, although not independently of mRS.

The mediating effect of post-stroke depression between social support and quality of life among stroke survivors: A meta-analytic structural equation modeling

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to confirm the relationship between social support (SS), post-stroke depression (PSD), and quality of life (QOL) and determine the mediating effect of PSD in stroke survivors. Additionally, we tested the impact of economic development level (in developed or developing countries) on the relationship between SS, PSD, and QOL.

METHODS

This study utilized meta-analytic structural equation modeling on systematically searched articles from PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang data published from inception to February 2022. Collect the sample size (n) of each study and the associations of observed variables, and conduct meta-analysis path analysis using AMOS 23.0 to assess the relationships. Concurrently, the effects of the national economic development level were extracted for moderator analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies (N = 3967) were included for analysis. SS and PSD were significant predictors of QOL (both p < 0.01). PSD mediated the relationship between SS and QOL (β = 0.31; 95% confidence interval 0.273-0.345; p < 0.01). Furthermore, in developed countries, SS was not statistically correlated with PSD (p = 0.811) compared to developing countries.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving SS may help improve the QOL of stroke patients. PSD should be addressed using a comprehensive approach that includes interventions to enhance the QOL. Additionally, people have different psychological reactions to SS at different stages of economic development; thus, further research is needed to develop different measurement standards for patients according to the country's level of economic development.

A Method for Estimating 24 h Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion by Spot Urine Specimen in Stroke Patients

Spot urine specimens have been used to estimate 24 h urinary sodium (Na) excretion (24UNaV) and potassium (K) excretion (24UKV). However, the validity is limited for 24UNaV and unknown for 24UKV in stroke patients, using the existing formulas. Herein, we developed and validated a new formula for 24UNaV and 24UKV by spot urine specimens in stroke patients. Spot and 24 h urine samples were collected from 970 stroke patients. The models of 24UNaV and 24UKV were developed using stepwise multivariate linear regression in 689 patients. The performance of different formulas was internally validated in 281 patients at the population and individual levels. The obtained new formulas were: (1) estimated 24UNaV (mmol/day): -0.191 × Age + 4.349 × BMI + 0.229 × Spot_Na + 1.744 × Spot_Na/Spot creatinine (Cr) + 41.492 (for male); -1.030 × Age + 2.011 × BMI + 0.143 × Spot_Na + 1.035 × Spot_Na/Spot_Cr + 147.159 (for female); and (2) estimated 24UKV (mmol/day): -0.052 × Age + 0.410 × BMI + 0.031 × Spot_K + 33.280 × Ln (spot_K/spot _Cr) - 5.789 × Ln (spot_Na/spot _Cr) - 1.035 (for male); -0.235 × Age + 0.530 × BMI + 0.040 × Spot_K + 30.990 × Ln (spot _K/spot _Cr) - 7.837 × Ln (spot_Na/spot_Cr) + 4.318 (for female). The new formula obtained the lowest mean bias (5.17 mmol/day for 24UNaV and 0.85 mmol/day for 24UKV) and highest proportion at the cutoff under the ±30% level for the estimation of 24UNaV (59.43%) and 24UKV (70.11%). The new formula provides a meaningful exploration to estimate 24UNaV and 24UKV in stroke patients by using spot urine specimens.

Conjunctional Relationship between Serum Uric Acid and Serum Nickel with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Serum uric acid (SUA) and heavy metals are closely related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Yet, the conjunctional relationship between SUA and serum nickel (Ni) concentrations with the risk of NAFLD in men has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we designed this cross-sectional study to investigate the association of SUA or serum Ni with NAFLD in men. The cross-sectional study was based on data obtained from a prospective cohort study of common chronic non-communicable diseases in Central China, conducted in Xinxiang city, Central China's Henan Province, between April and June 2017. A total of 1709 male participants completed the physical examination. B-ultrasound was used to examine the liver and to diagnose NAFLD. Binary logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines were performed to estimate the association of the SUA and serum Ni with NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD among 1709 male participants was 46.6%. After adjusting for potential confounders, with the highest quartile compared to those with the lowest quartile, SUA (OR = 1.579, 95% CI: 1.140-2.189) and serum Ni (OR = 1.896, 95% CI: 1.372-2.625) were associated with NAFLD, respectively. At the same time, the associations for the second and third SUA quartiles were null. Restricted cubic splines showed a positive linear relationship between serum Ni (ln-transformed) and NAFLD risk. Intriguingly, high SUA and high Ni (OR = 2.370, 95% CI: 1.577-3.597) increased the risk of NAFLD, compared with those with low SUA and low Ni. Our findings demonstrate a positive linear trend between serum Ni concentrations and NAFLD risk. Men with elevated serum Ni had a higher risk of developing NAFLD when compared to those with high SUA. Furthermore, the conjunctional relationship of SUA and serum Ni with NAFLD risk was observed in men.