Apathy and health-related quality of life in stroke.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in stroke survivors with and without apathy.


DESIGN
Cross-sectional study.


SETTING
Acute stroke unit in a regional hospital.


PARTICIPANTS
Stroke survivors (N=391) recruited from the acute stroke unit.


INTERVENTIONS
Not applicable.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Participants were divided into apathy and nonapathy groups. Participants who scored ≥36 on the Apathy Evaluation Scale, clinician's version formed the apathy group. HRQOL was measured with the 2 component scores, mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS), of the Medical Outcomes Study 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12). Demographic and clinical information were obtained with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).


RESULTS
Thirty-six (9%) participants had apathy. The apathy group had significantly lower MCS and PCS scores. After adjusting for sex, education, diabetes mellitus, and NIHSS, MMSE, GDS, and BI scores, the MCS score in the apathy group remained significantly lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Apathy has a significant negative effect on HRQOL in stroke survivors, particularly on their mental health. Interventions for apathy could improve the HRQOL of stroke survivors.
['Tang|Wai-Kwong|WK|', 'Lau|Chieh Grace|CG|', 'Mok|Vincent|V|', 'Ungvari|Gabor S|GS|', 'Wong|Ka-Sing|KS|']
D000368:Aged D057565:Apathy D003071:Cognition D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008603:Mental Health D011379:Prognosis D011788:Quality of Life D020521:Stroke D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation D016896:Treatment Outcome
Apathy Quality of life Stroke Rehabilitation