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Relationship Between Disability and Health‐Related Quality of Life and Caregiver Burden in Patients With Upper Limb Poststroke Spasticity
Author(s) -
Doan Quan V.,
Brashear Allison,
Gillard Patrick J.,
Varon Sepideh F.,
Vandenburgh Amanda M.,
Turkel Catherine C.,
Elovic Elie P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
pmandr
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.617
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1934-1563
pISSN - 1934-1482
DOI - 10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.10.001
Subject(s) - medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , physical therapy , spasticity , caregiver burden , stroke (engine) , activities of daily living , physical medicine and rehabilitation , physical disability , dementia , mechanical engineering , nursing , disease , engineering
Objective To evaluate the relationship between disability and both health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and caregiver burden in patients with upper limb poststroke spasticity. Design Multicenter open‐label study. Setting Thirty‐five sites in North America. Participants Patients (N = 279) with upper limb poststroke spasticity. Methods Post hoc analyses of data from an open‐label study were performed to estimate HRQoL and caregiver burden at study baseline across levels of disability in 4 problem domains: hygiene, dressing, limb posture, and pain. Disability severity in these areas was determined by using the 4‐point Disability Assessment Scale rated by the physicians. Main Outcome Measurements HRQoL measured by the patient‐reported EuroQol 5 Dimensions questionnaire and the Stroke‐Adapted Sickness Impact Profile and caregiver burden. Results At study baseline, increasing disability in the hygiene, dressing, and pain domains of the Disability Assessment Scale was associated with diminishing HRQoL scores ( P < .002) measured by the EuroQol 5 Dimensions. By using the Stroke‐Adapted Sickness Impact Profile, greater disability scores in all problem domains were significantly associated with higher overall dysfunction scores ( P ≤ .05). Within the physical dimension of the Stroke‐Adapted Sickness Impact Profile, significant associations also were observed in all domains. At baseline, caregiver burden was significantly related to increasing levels of hygiene and dressing domain severity ( P ≤ .05). Caregiver assistance requirement increased from approximately 9.0‐28.2 hours per week in the hygiene domain and 3.3‐32.1 hours per week in the dressing domain as disability increased from “none” to “severe.” Conclusions In patients with upper limb poststroke spasticity, increasing disability in the hygiene, dressing, and pain domains of the Disability Assessment Scale were associated with diminishing HRQoL. Furthermore, these patients required caregiver assistance proportionally related to the severity of their disability in the hygiene and dressing domains.