J Neurol Res

Journal of Neurology Research, ISSN 1923-2845 print, 1923-2853 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Neurol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website http://www.neurores.org

Original Article

Volume 3, Number 1, February 2013, pages 20-33

Daily Functioning and Quality of Life of Patients One Year Post Stroke: A Comparison of Two Different Follow-Up Care Programmes

**Table 1.** Baseline Characteristics of the Study Population
Variables	ATC (%)	ORP (%)	P*
* Fisher’s exact test.
Patients included	45	48
Gender
Men	22 (49)	17 (35)
Women	23 (51)	31 (65)
Age, average (range)	78 (61 - 92)	77 (60 - 89)
Living situation
Living alone	21 (47)	30 (62.5)
Living with a partner	24 (53)	18 (37.5)
Brain hemisphere			0.351
Left side	19 (42)	27 (56)
Right side	22 (49)	21 (44)
Unknown	4 (9)	-
NIHSS, average (range)	5 (0 - 23)	5 (0 - 22)	0.522
Risk factors present before stroke
No risk factors	7 (16)	3 (6)	0.189
Hypertension	24 (53)	17 (43)	0.082
Hypercholesterolemia	9 (20)	7 (14)	0.489
Diabetes	5 (11)	8 (20)	0.440
Cardiac embolus	11 (24)	12 (22)	0.951
Smoking	10 (22)	-
History
No history	7 (16)	3 (6)	0.189
Ischemic heart disease	13 (29)	7 (15)	0.093
Stroke/TIA	12 (27)	14 (29)	0.788
Atrial fibrillation	7 (16)	12 (25)	0.259
Heart failure	2 (4)	4 (8)	0.678
COPD	4 (11)	9 (19)	0.303
Depression	4 (9)	2 (4)	0.425

Table 1. Baseline Characteristics of the Study Population

Variables

ATC (%)

ORP (%)

* Fisher’s exact test.

Patients included

Gender

Men

22 (49)

17 (35)

Women

23 (51)

31 (65)

Age, average (range)

78 (61 - 92)

77 (60 - 89)

Living situation

Living alone

21 (47)

30 (62.5)

Living with a partner

24 (53)

18 (37.5)

Brain hemisphere

0.351

Left side

19 (42)

27 (56)

Right side

22 (49)

21 (44)

Unknown

4 (9)

NIHSS, average (range)

5 (0 - 23)

5 (0 - 22)

0.522

Risk factors present before stroke

No risk factors

7 (16)

3 (6)

0.189

Hypertension

24 (53)

17 (43)

0.082

Hypercholesterolemia

9 (20)

7 (14)

0.489

Diabetes

5 (11)

8 (20)

0.440

Cardiac embolus

11 (24)

12 (22)

0.951

Smoking

10 (22)

History

No history

7 (16)

3 (6)

0.189

Ischemic heart disease

13 (29)

7 (15)

0.093

Stroke/TIA

12 (27)

14 (29)

0.788

Atrial fibrillation

7 (16)

12 (25)

0.259

Heart failure

2 (4)

4 (8)

0.678

COPD

4 (11)

9 (19)

0.303

Depression

4 (9)

2 (4)

0.425

**Table 2.** Functioning (BI), One Year After Discharge According to Demographic Factors, Change in Activities and Follow-Up Care
Variables	ATC group	ORP group
* Kruskall-Wallis¹ and Mann-Whitney² test, ^# Interaction rank transform ANOVA.
Gender²
Male	22	20 (8 - 21)	0.467	17	19 (2 - 21)	0.018	0.434
Female	23	20.5 (7 - 21)		31	21 (17 - 21)
Social situation²
Living alone	21	20 (8 - 21)	0.820	18	20 (2 - 21)	0.834	0.619
Living with partner	24	20.5 (7 - 21)		30	20 (16 - 21)
Stroke location²
Left side	19	21 (8 - 21)	0.075	27	20 (11 - 21)	0.282	0.300
Right side	22	19 (7 - 21)		21	20 (2 - 21)
Housekeeping¹
More			0.000			0.014	0.619
As much as before	16	21 (18 - 21)		15	21 (17 - 21)
Less	19	19 (16 - 21)		26	20 (13 - 21)
Quit	10	17.5 (7 - 21)		7	17 (2 - 20)
Physical activity¹
More	.	.	0.012			0.014	0.407
As much as before	16	21 (18 - 21)		17	21 (13 - 21)
Less	25	19 (15 - 21)		26	19 (11 - 21)
Quit	4	8 (7 - 21)		5	17 (2 - 20)
Hobbies¹
More	1		0.014			0.043	0.051
As much as before	21	21 (16 - 21)		21	21 (13 - 21)
Less	18	20 (8 - 21)		16	19.5 (16 - 21)
Quit	5	17 (7 - 19)		11	20 (2 - 20)
Visiting¹
More			0.000
As much as before	20	21 (18 - 21)		31	20 (13 - 21)	0.214	0.551
Less	19	20 (16 - 21)		16	20 (11 - 21)
Quit	6	11.5 (7 - 19)		1	2
Experienced quality of life²
The same	22	21 (8 - 21)	0.079	21	19 (13 - 21)	0.367	0.331
Diminished	22	19 (7 - 21)		27	20 (2 - 21)
GP contact²
No	3	21 (19 - 21)	0.364
Yes	42	20 (7 - 21)
> 10 times				26	20 (2 - 21)	0.864
< 10 times				22	20 (11 - 21)
Neurologist contact²
No	11	20 (17 -21)	0.972	5	19 (13 - 21)	0.719
Yes	26	20.5 (8 - 21)		43	20 (2 - 21)
Physiotherapy²
No	13	21 (15 - 21)	0.070	34	20 (2 - 21)	0.136	0.264
Yes	32	19 (7 - 21)		14	18.5 (11 - 21)
Speech therapy²
No	31	19 (7 - 21)	0.216	32	20 (2 - 21)	0.320	0.698
Yes	14	21 (8 - 21)		16	20 (16 - 21)
Occupational² therapy
No	28	21 (7 - 21)	0.105	34	20 (13 - 21)	0.127	0.160
Yes	17	19 (8 - 21)		14	19 (2 - 21)
District nursing services^2/3
No	29	21 (8 - 21)	0.000	24	20 (2 - 21)	0.470
Yes				19	20 (11 - 21)
More	15	18 (7 - 21)
Less				5	21 (18 - 21)
Local Authority home help²
No	19	19 (7 - 21)	0.766	18	20 (16 - 21)	0.374	0.780
Yes	25	20 (8 - 21)		30	20 (2 - 21)
Day center²
No	33	21 (7 - 21)	0.103	43	20 (2 - 21)	0.222	0.425
Yes	12	19 (8 - 21)		5	20 (17 - 21)
Hospital admittance²
No	38	20 (7 - 21)	0.780	38	20 (13 - 21)	0.496	0.316
Yes	7	19 (17 -21)		10	19.5 (2 - 21)

Table 2. Functioning (BI), One Year After Discharge According to Demographic Factors, Change in Activities and Follow-Up Care

Variables

ATC group

ORP group

Median (range)

P^#

* Kruskall-Wallis¹ and Mann-Whitney² test, ^# Interaction rank transform ANOVA.

Gender²

Male

20 (8 - 21)

0.467

19 (2 - 21)

0.018

0.434

Female

20.5 (7 - 21)

21 (17 - 21)

Social situation²

Living alone

20 (8 - 21)

0.820

20 (2 - 21)

0.834

0.619

Living with partner

20.5 (7 - 21)

20 (16 - 21)

Stroke location²

Left side

21 (8 - 21)

0.075

20 (11 - 21)

0.282

0.300

Right side

19 (7 - 21)

20 (2 - 21)

Housekeeping¹

0.000

0.014

0.619

As much as before

21 (18 - 21)

21 (17 - 21)

Less

19 (16 - 21)

20 (13 - 21)

Quit

17.5 (7 - 21)

17 (2 - 20)

Physical activity¹

0.012

0.014

0.407

As much as before

21 (18 - 21)

21 (13 - 21)

Less

19 (15 - 21)

19 (11 - 21)

Quit

8 (7 - 21)

17 (2 - 20)

Hobbies¹

0.014

0.043

0.051

As much as before

21 (16 - 21)

21 (13 - 21)

Less

20 (8 - 21)

19.5 (16 - 21)

Quit

17 (7 - 19)

20 (2 - 20)

Visiting¹

0.000

As much as before

21 (18 - 21)

20 (13 - 21)

0.214

0.551

Less

20 (16 - 21)

20 (11 - 21)

Quit

11.5 (7 - 19)

Experienced quality of life²

The same

21 (8 - 21)

0.079

19 (13 - 21)

0.367

0.331

Diminished

19 (7 - 21)

20 (2 - 21)

GP contact²

21 (19 - 21)

0.364

Yes

20 (7 - 21)

> 10 times

20 (2 - 21)

0.864

< 10 times

20 (11 - 21)

Neurologist contact²

20 (17 -21)

0.972

19 (13 - 21)

0.719

Yes

20.5 (8 - 21)

20 (2 - 21)

Physiotherapy²

21 (15 - 21)

0.070

20 (2 - 21)

0.136

0.264

Yes

19 (7 - 21)

18.5 (11 - 21)

Speech therapy²

19 (7 - 21)

0.216

20 (2 - 21)

0.320

0.698

Yes

21 (8 - 21)

20 (16 - 21)

Occupational² therapy

21 (7 - 21)

0.105

20 (13 - 21)

0.127

0.160

Yes

19 (8 - 21)

19 (2 - 21)

District nursing services^2/3

21 (8 - 21)

0.000

20 (2 - 21)

0.470

Yes

20 (11 - 21)

18 (7 - 21)

Less

21 (18 - 21)

Local Authority home help²

19 (7 - 21)

0.766

20 (16 - 21)

0.374

0.780

Yes

20 (8 - 21)

20 (2 - 21)

Day center²

21 (7 - 21)

0.103

20 (2 - 21)

0.222

0.425

Yes

19 (8 - 21)

20 (17 - 21)

Hospital admittance²

20 (7 - 21)

0.780

20 (13 - 21)

0.496

0.316

Yes

19 (17 -21)

19.5 (2 - 21)

**Table 3.** Rand-36 Comparison in the Two Study Groups
Rand-36	ATC	ORP	P*
*Mann-Whitney test.
Physical functioning	45 (0 - 95)	55 (0 - 95)	0.301
Social functioning	87.5 (25 - 100)	100 (0 - 100)	0.836
Role limitations - physical	50 (0 - 100)	25 (0 - 100)	0.012
Role limitations - emotional	100 (33.3 - 100)	100 (0 - 100)	0.552
Mental Health	82 (12 - 100)	76 (24 - 100)	0.086
Vitality	65 (0 - 100)	65 (20 - 100)	0.727
Bodily Pain	100 (34.7 - 100)	100 (10.2 - 100)	0.673
General Health	65 (15 - 100)	50 (5 - 100)	0.042

Table 3. Rand-36 Comparison in the Two Study Groups

Rand-36

ATC

ORP

Median (range)

*Mann-Whitney test.

Physical functioning

45 (0 - 95)

55 (0 - 95)

0.301

Social functioning

87.5 (25 - 100)

100 (0 - 100)

0.836

Role limitations - physical

50 (0 - 100)

25 (0 - 100)

0.012

Role limitations - emotional

100 (33.3 - 100)

100 (0 - 100)

0.552

Mental Health

82 (12 - 100)

76 (24 - 100)

0.086

Vitality

65 (0 - 100)

65 (20 - 100)

0.727

Bodily Pain

100 (34.7 - 100)

100 (10.2 - 100)

0.673

General Health

65 (15 - 100)

50 (5 - 100)

0.042

**Table 4.** ATC Group; Relationship Between HRQOL and Change in Activities
Variables	FF	P	SF	P	RLf	P	RLe	P	MH	P	Vit	P	BP	P	GH	P
Results of the Kruskal-Wallis¹ or Mann-Whitney² test. FF: median physical functioning, SF: median social functioning, RLf: median role limitations - physical, RLe: median role limitations - emotional, MH: median mental health, Vit: median vitality, BP: median bodily pain, GH: median general health.
House-Keeping¹
As much	77.5	< 0.001	75	0.244	75	0.071	100	0.421	78	0.704	75	0.593	100	0.102	70	0.939
Less	45		100		50		100		84		65		89.8		65
Quit	10		75		25		100		84		60		94.9		65
Physical activity¹
As much	72.5	< 0.001	100	0.120	87.5	0.006	100	0.808	84	0.615	67.5	0.037	100	0.014	75	0.075
Less	35		81.3		37.5		100		82		67.5		89.8		65
Quit	2.5		62.5		25		100		62		32.5		100		32.5
Hobbies¹
As much	70	0.003	100	0.005	75	0.069	100	0.258	80	0.312	70	0.072	100	0.724	70	0.006
Less	45		75		50		100		86		60		94.9		55
Quit	20		62.5		25		100		76		50		100		40
Visiting¹
As much	70	< 0.001	100	0.220	75	0.011	100	0.782	84	0.890	70	0.245	100	0.864	70	0.168
Less	45		75		50		100		80		65		100		65
Quit	7.5		75		0		100		80		60		100		45
Day center²
Yes	40	0.246	75	0.436	50	0.568	100	0.601	84	0.643	60	0.558	100	0.877	60	0.558
No	55		100		50		100		80		70		100		70

Table 4. ATC Group; Relationship Between HRQOL and Change in Activities

Variables

RLf

RLe

Vit

Results of the Kruskal-Wallis¹ or Mann-Whitney² test. FF: median physical functioning, SF: median social functioning, RLf: median role limitations - physical, RLe: median role limitations - emotional, MH: median mental health, Vit: median vitality, BP: median bodily pain, GH: median general health.

House-Keeping¹

As much

77.5

< 0.001

0.244

0.071

100

0.421

0.704

0.593

100

0.102

0.939

Less

100

89.8

Quit

100

94.9

Physical activity¹

As much

72.5

< 0.001

100

0.120

87.5

0.006

100

0.808

0.615

67.5

0.037

100

0.014

0.075

Less

81.3

37.5

100

67.5

89.8

Quit

2.5

62.5

100

32.5

100

32.5

Hobbies¹

As much

0.003

100

0.005

0.069

100

0.258

0.312

0.072

100

0.724

0.006

Less

100

94.9

Quit

62.5

100

Visiting¹

As much

< 0.001

100

0.220

0.011

100

0.782

0.890

0.245

100

0.864

0.168

Less

100

Quit

7.5

100

Day center²

Yes

0.246

0.436

0.568

100

0.601

0.643

0.558

100

0.877

0.558

100

**Table 5.** ORP Group; Relationship Between HRQOL and Change in Activities
Variables	FF	P	SF	P	RLf	P	RLe	P	MH	P	Vit	P	BP	P	GH	P
Results of the Kruskal-Wallis¹ or Mann-Whitney² test. FF: median physical functioning, SF: median social functioning, RLf: median role limitations - physical, RLe: median role limitations - emotional, MH: median mental health, Vit: median vitality, BP: median bodily pain, GH: median general health.
House-Keeping¹
As much	60	0.001	87.5	0.557	25	0.660	100	0.798	84	0.300	70	0.164	100	0.742	65	0.106
Less	60		100		25		100		76		60		88.8		45
Quit	20		75		25		100		72		55		77.6		40
Physical activity¹
As much	70	0.045	100	0.009	50	0.008	100	0.153	80	0.104	70	0.179	100	0.352	65	0.208
Less	52.5		75		25		100		72		60		88.8		42.5
Quit	25		75		25		100		72		65		100		50
Hobbies¹
As much	60	0.124	100	0.155	75	0.006	100	0.904	80	0.035	70	0.324	100	0.944	65	0.274
Less	60		87.5		50		100		76		65		100		50
Quit	35		75		25		100		72		45		100		40
Visiting¹
As much	55	0.066	100	<0.001	25	<0.001	100	0.707	76	0.559	70	0.045	79.6	0.355	65	0.222
Less	42.5		62.5		0		100		74		60		100		45
Quit	0		12.5		0		100		72		25		100		20
Day center²
Yes	50	0.648	62.5	0.019	0	0.036	100	0.529	64	0.099	45	0.599	77.6	0.658	35	0.279
No	55		100		25		100		76		65		100		50

Table 5. ORP Group; Relationship Between HRQOL and Change in Activities

Variables

RLf

RLe

Vit

House-Keeping¹

As much

0.001

87.5

0.557

0.660

100

0.798

0.300

0.164

100

0.742

0.106

Less

100

88.8

Quit

100

77.6

Physical activity¹

As much

0.045

100

0.009

0.008

100

0.153

0.104

0.179

100

0.352

0.208

Less

52.5

100

88.8

42.5

Quit

100

Hobbies¹

As much

0.124

100

0.155

0.006

100

0.904

0.035

0.324

100

0.944

0.274

Less

87.5

100

Quit

100

Visiting¹

As much

0.066

100

<0.001

100

0.707

0.559

0.045

79.6

0.355

0.222

Less

42.5

62.5

100

Quit

12.5

100

Day center²

Yes

0.648

62.5

0.019

0.036

100

0.529

0.099

0.599

77.6

0.658

0.279

100

**Table 6.** RAND-36 Interactions Between the ATC and ORP Groups and Activities
HRQOL	Activities	P^#
^#Interaction rank transform ANOVA.
Physical functioning	Housekeeping	0.046
	Physical activity	0.128
	Hobbies	0.164
	Visiting	0.870
	Day centre	0.695
Social functioning	Housekeeping	0.860
	Physical activity	0.256
	Hobbies	0.430
	Visiting	0.063
	Day centre	0.141
Role limitations - physical	Housekeeping	0.701
	Physical activity	0.804
	Hobbies	0.190
	Visiting	0.142
	Day centre	0.154
Role limitations - emotional	Housekeeping	0.564
	Physical activity	0.321
	Hobbies	0.367
	Visiting	0.892
	Day centre	0.847
Mental health	Housekeeping	0.218
	Physical activity	0.312
	Hobbies	0.607
	Visiting	0.808
	Day centre	0.131
Vitality	Housekeeping	0.732
	Physical activity	0.079
	Hobbies	0.718
	Visiting	0.412
	Day centre	0.882
Bodily pain	Housekeeping	0.634
	Physical activity	0.289
	Hobbies	0.847
	Visiting	0.565
	Day centre	0.622
General health	Housekeeping	0.351
	Physical activity	0.281
	Hobbies	0.424
	Visiting	0.834
	Day centre	0.471

Table 6. RAND-36 Interactions Between the ATC and ORP Groups and Activities

HRQOL

Activities

P^#

^#Interaction rank transform ANOVA.

Physical functioning

Housekeeping

0.046

Physical activity

0.128

Hobbies

0.164

Visiting

0.870

Day centre

0.695

Social functioning

Housekeeping

0.860

Physical activity

0.256

Hobbies

0.430

Visiting

0.063

Day centre

0.141

Role limitations - physical

Housekeeping

0.701

Physical activity

0.804

Hobbies

0.190

Visiting

0.142

Day centre

0.154

Role limitations - emotional

Housekeeping

0.564

Physical activity

0.321

Hobbies

0.367

Visiting

0.892

Day centre

0.847

Mental health

Housekeeping

0.218

Physical activity

0.312

Hobbies

0.607

Visiting

0.808

Day centre

0.131

Vitality

Housekeeping

0.732

Physical activity

0.079

Hobbies

0.718

Visiting

0.412

Day centre

0.882

Bodily pain

Housekeeping

0.634

Physical activity

0.289

Hobbies

0.847

Visiting

0.565

Day centre

0.622

General health

Housekeeping

0.351

Physical activity

0.281

Hobbies

0.424

Visiting

0.834

Day centre

0.471

**Table 7.** Change in the Frequency of Daily Occupations
Daily Occupations	ATC (%)	ORP (%)	P*
* Fisher’s exact test.
Housekeeping
The same	35.6	31.3	0.459
Less	42.2	54.2
Quit	22.2	14.6
Physical exercise
The same	35.6	35.4	1.000
Less	55.6	54.2
Quit	8.9	10.4
Hobbies
More	2.2	0	0.328
The same	46.7	43.8
Less	40.0	33.3
Quit	11.1	22.9
Visiting
The same	44.4	64.6	0.041
Less	42.2	33.3
Quit	13.3	2.1
Holidays
The same	62.2	45.8	0.047
Less	17.8	10.4
Quit	20.0	43.8

Table 7. Change in the Frequency of Daily Occupations

Daily Occupations

ATC (%)

ORP (%)

* Fisher’s exact test.

Housekeeping

The same

35.6

31.3

0.459

Less

42.2

54.2

Quit

22.2

14.6

Physical exercise

The same

35.6

35.4

1.000

Less

55.6

54.2

Quit

8.9

10.4

Hobbies

2.2

0.328

The same

46.7

43.8

Less

40.0

33.3

Quit

11.1

22.9

Visiting

The same

44.4

64.6

0.041

Less

42.2

33.3

Quit

13.3

2.1

Holidays

The same

62.2

45.8

0.047

Less

17.8

10.4

Quit

20.0

43.8