Factors influencing prognosis and functional outcome one year after a first-time stroke in a Caribbean population.

Objective: To evaluate functional outcome and quality of life 1 year poststroke in a Caribbean population.

Design: Prospective study of patients with a first hemispheric stroke admitted consecutively between December 2010 and February 2011. The patients were evaluated (1) in the emergency department, (2) when discharged from the hospital, and (3) 1 year poststroke.

Setting: A university hospital.

Participants: Of the 140 consecutive patients with stroke, 78 (42% women, 24.4% hemorrhagic stroke) were included in the study.

Interventions: None.

Main Outcome Measures: Patients were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), FIM, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 62.1±17.7 years; 70.5% of patients had hypertension, 29.4% had diabetes, and 23.6% had chronic renal failure. At 1 year poststroke, the mortality rate was 29.4%, and the recurrence rate 2.6%. We evaluated 39 of the 55 survivors (71%). Score evolution (emergency department vs 1y later) is as follows: for the NIHSS, it was 6.2±4.9 versus 3.3±3.9 (z=-3.578; P<.001); and for the mRS score ≤2, it was 54.2% versus 66.7% (χ(2)=14.182; P=.25). The FIM score on discharge from the hospital versus 1 year later was 103.2±28.2 versus 101.7±31.5 (z=-1.008; P=.313). Multivariate analysis showed that aphasia, hemianopia, and incontinence significantly influenced the 1-year FIM score (P<.001). Quality of life, a patient-reported outcome measure of health-related quality of life, was significantly altered concerning vitality, role physical, and role emotional.

Conclusions: One year after a first stroke, despite significant improvement of neurologic impairment, the level of dependency did not change and quality of life was altered. Aphasia, hemianopia, and incontinence significantly influenced functional state.