To Örebro University

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and impact of stroke-related comorbidity in a community-based sample of stroke survivors. With respect to the patients’ functional outcomes and general health, we wanted to find out which types of comorbidity were most important.

Materials and Methods: All stroke survivors (n = 330) living in a medium-sized Swedish municipality were included. To determine the presence of comorbidities patient records were reviewed. A selection of patient reported outcomes were used to assess subjective symptoms, functional outcomes, and general health. All patients were asked to answer a questionnaire, the Swedish Stroke Register (Riksstroke). Three questions from the questionnaire were used as additional measures of comorbidity. “Do you feel tired?,” “Do you have pain?” and “Do you feel depressed?” As outcome measures the patient reported measures from the Riksstroke questionnaire were used: * Do you still have problems after your stroke? * Have you been able to return to the life and activities you had before the stroke? * How is your mobility now? * Do you get help from someone when visiting the toilet? * Do you get help with dressing and undressing? * How do you assess your general health? Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between comorbidities, residual symptoms, and subjective symptoms on the one hand, and functional outcomes and general health on the other hand.

Results: Hypertension (80%) was the most common cardiovascular risk factor. Ischemic heart disease was found in 18% and congestive heart failure in 10%. Of non-cardiovascular disorders, orthopedic diseases were commonest (30%). Psychiatric disorders and cognitive impairment were present in 11% and 12% respectively. Logistic regression analyses found that hemiparesis was associated with both poorer functional outcomes and lower general health. Additionally, orthopedic disorders, vertigo, cognitive impairment, nicotine use, chronic pulmonary disorders, and older age, were also associated with poorer functional outcomes. Psychiatric, orthopedic and neurological disorders were associated with poorer general health. The patient-reported outcome measure “feeling of tiredness” was a predictor of both outcomes, while “feeling depressed” and “having pain” were associated with poorer general health.

Conclusions: Many medical conditions, several of which have received little attention so far, are associated with poorer functional outcome and lower general health among stroke survivors. Future research into comorbidities relevant to function and general health in stroke patients could further focus on these disorders that hitherto have received little attention.