Chronic Pain and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life among Stroke Survivors in TASH
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Date
2025-02-19
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Globally, more than 100 million individuals have survived a stroke, making it one of the leading causes of disabilities. The survivors may face various post-stroke sequelae such as depression, language abnormalities, and debilitating chronic pain. Some previous studies conducted else including Ethiopia, have shown that post-stroke survivors have a lower quality of life compared to the general population. Although little information is available in this regard, its contributory impact on HRQoL is unknown and therefore we examined the impact of chronic pain on health-related quality of life among stroke survivors for some improved programmatic initiatives contextually.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the magnitude of chronic pain in stroke survivor patients and its impact on their health-related quality of life among patients attending the Stroke clinic, at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH)
Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was used to assess post-stroke patients who visited TASH from September 20 to December 20, 2024. All eligible patients aged above 18 years, able to communicate, and at least three months post-stroke were included. A validated tool; the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) screening tool and the short version of the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QoL), were administered through face-to-face structured interviews. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used and p-value < 0.00) and psychosocial domain (P < 0.001). Other factors negatively affecting physical domain are such as occupation (unemployed (p=0.023), retired .
Result: A total of 132 stroke survivors were involved. The mean age of the respondents was 56.93 years, ranging from 18 to 87 years. Males account higher proportion 57.6% (76). Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke account 69.7% (92). Pain was reported by 22.7% (30) of the patients (95% CI: 15.9%-30.8%), with Central Post-Stroke Pain (CPSP) being the most common type. The pain was significantly associated with a decrease in HRQoL, affecting both physical domain (p < 0.00) and psychosocial domain (P < 0.001). Other factors negatively affecting physical domain are such as occupation (unemployed (p=0.023), retired .
Conclusion: Chronic pain is a prevalent and debilitating complication among stroke survivors, significantly reducing HRQoL. Effective pain management strategies are essential to improve the quality of life in this population.
Key Words: Chronic pain; Stroke survivors; Central post-stroke Pain, Health-Related Quality of life.
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Keywords
Chronic pain Stroke survivors Central post-stroke Pain Health-Related Quality of life.