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(Stroke. 1995;26:971-975.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Psychosocial and Health Status in Stroke Survivors After 14 Years

Jaakko Tuomilehto, MD, MSocSc, PhD; Tarja Nuottimäki, MSocSc; Kalervo Salmi, MD; Kari Aho, MD, PhD; Mervi Kotila, MD, PhD; Cinzia Sarti, MD, PhD Daiva Rastenytè, MD

From the Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki (J.T., T.N., C.S., D.R.); the Department of Neurology, North Karelia Central Hospital, Joensuu (K.S.); the Department of Neurology, Jorvi Hospital, Espoo (K.A.); and the Neurological Clinic, Helsinki University Hospital (M.K.), Finland.

Correspondence to Professor Jaakko Tuomilehto, National Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland.

Background and Purpose Most studies of long-term survival and assessment of health status in survivors of stroke are hospital based and are often based only on a relatively short follow-up. This study was aimed at evaluating survival of acute stroke after 14 years. We also assessed psychosocial and health status among the long-term stroke survivors.

Methods This study is a follow-up of the Finnish part of the collaborative World Health Organization Stroke Study that took place during 1972 through 1974. All survivors were interviewed by telephone after being sent a structured questionnaire approximately 14 years after the initial stroke attack. Information on clinical history, socioeconomic situation, self-reported functional capacity, psychosomatic status, perceived mental status, and perceived health was collected.

Results Of the 1241 persons who had been entered in the stroke register from 1972 through 1974, 241 (19.4%) were still alive after 14 years. Participation rate in the telephone interview was 83.4%. Over 80% of all stroke survivors lived at home or with relatives at the time of interview. Functional capacity was good in about two thirds of the stroke survivors. Only 10% to 15% of all respondents felt depressed. About half of both men and women aged 64 years or younger perceived their health as good, while only 25% of men aged 65 years or over did.

Conclusions Most stroke survivors did not need institutionalized care in the long term. Although a large proportion of them suffered from various somatic diseases, their functional capacity was found to be good.

Key Words: activities of daily living • rehabilitation • stroke • survival

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