Functional capacity and health-related quality of life in individuals post stroke.

Background: In individuals post stroke, cardiovascular and functional capacity is frequently reduced independent of severity. The psychological consequences of this reduction have only been briefly investigated. This study investigated the relationship between functional capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals post stroke.

Method: Thirty subjects with a mild stroke were tested 60 +/- 27 months (mean +/- SD) post stroke. Functional capacity was quantified with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and perceived HRQoL was evaluated by using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) version 3.0 questionnaire.

Results: The 6MWT distance walked was 353 +/- 137 m, that is, 63% of the distance predicted for healthy adults. HRQoL was reduced with the lowest SIS scores in the domains of strength, hand function, and participation domains and the highest scores in the domains of mobility, communication, activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL), and memory. The SIS domains of hand function, strength, mobility, ADL/IADL, and participation were all positively correlated with 6MWT distance, with the strongest correlation for the latter four domains.

Conclusion: Reductions in both functional capacity and HRQoL were documented. Functional capacity was positively correlated with six of the HRQoL domains and was strongest with the SIS domains most related to demands made on the individual throughout the day.