Health-Related Quality of Life Trajectories over the First Year after Stroke in Colombia, South America.

Background: Stroke is the second most common cause of death around the world, and little is known about long-term HRQOL outcomes for Latino American individuals after stroke. Objective: The purpose of the study is to compare HRQOL trajectories in stroke survivors to a group of healthy controls from Colombia first year post-stroke. Methods: Forty individuals diagnosed with stroke and 50 controls were recruited from the Psychological Attention Center of Antonio Narino University. Results: Hierarchical linear models suggested that trajectories of all eight indices of HRQOL were lower over time in stroke individuals compared to controls. Stroke patients showed gains in the HRQOL domains of physical functioning, role limitations - physical, role limitations - emotional, pain, and social functioning, although only pain in stroke individuals approached that of controls at 12 months. Despite these improvements, seven of the eight indices of HRQOL in stroke individuals remained very low over time, suggesting that the vast majority of rehabilitation gains in HRQOL, even when present, were extremely limited. Conclusions: The current findings suggest a need in Latin America for mental health services after stroke, as well as other interventions designed to increase social and family support, which may thereby improve mental health.