Clinical and psychosocial factors determining the quality of life in patients with ischemic stroke

Acute cerebrovascular pathology, including common clinical forms such as ischemic stroke, remains the most important medical and socio-economic challenge, due to the severe consequences of the post-stroke period. Cognitive impairments are the most socially significant ones. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of psychosocial and clinical factors on the quality of life of patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods. The authors examined 100 patients with ischemic stroke (54 men, 46 women). The age of patients ranged from 35-85; the average age of men was 59,6±2L0 years, the average age of women - 60.7±10.4 years. The authors interviewed the patients, conducted neurological examination, and neuropsychological testing using the HADS, MMSE scales, Personality Questionnaire of the Bekhterev Institute, SCL-90-R, and the SAGE test. Statistical processing was carried out using non-parametric (Mann-Whitney U test) and parametric (Student's t-test) criteria. Results. The study establishes the main clinical and psychosocial factors of the acute period of ischemic stroke, which have the most significant impact on the patients’ quality of life. The most important are cognitive impairments associated with disorders of psycho-emotional background and autonomic regulation. They greatly reduce the adaptive abilities of a person. Despite neuropsychological and cognitive impairments, the motivation level for recovery remains high in all patients with ischemic stroke. Conclusions. While developing personalized rehabilitation programs, it is necessary to take into account personal characteristics of patients and to focus on the active restoration of their adaptive-compensatory capabilities.