OBJECTIVES : Ischaemic stroke (IS) remains a major cause of death and disability and affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients. We aimed to evaluate the QoL of patients with a history of IS living in a rural area in Poland and compare it to data from urban settings.

METHODS : Study population: 172 patients discharged from 01.01.2005 to 31.10.2006 from the Regional Hospital in Zakopane, with a diagnosis of IS who consented to the study. We assessed the degree of paralysis, speech disorders, functional status according to the Bartel index (BI), cognitive function using the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and symptoms of anxiety and depression using the HADS scale at 6 to 12 months after IS. QoL was evaluated using European Quality of Life Scale-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and SF-12v2.

RESULTS : A very serious and severe disability (BI < 45) was reported in 11.6% of patients, a full recovery in 33.7%, anxiety in 39.6%, depression in 33% and cognitive impairment in 37.9% of patients. In EQ-5D, 66% of patients had problems in mobility and performance of usual activities, felt pain/discomfort or anxiety/depression, and 50% had problems with self-service. In the univariate analysis, depression and slurred speech impacted all EQ-5D domains. In the multivariate analysis, scores of individual EQ-5D domains were dependent on the presence of paralysis, speech disorders, dementia, depression and anxiety. In the SF-12 survey, both summary components (physical and psychological) and sub-scales were reduced compared to the population norm. We found no effect of gender, age or cognitive disorders on the outcome of the scores of the SF-12.

CONCLUSIONS : QoL of rural population of IS survivors did not differ substantially from urban population data, except for the reduced total component of mental health. The most important factors affecting QoL were the functional state, depression and anxiety.