Abstract / Summary
Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide, and improving post-stroke quality of life has become an important goal of stroke care. However, evidence on determinants of quality of life after stroke in low- and middle-income countries remains limited. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life among stroke survivors and identify factors associated with quality-of-life outcomes in a tertiary hospital in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 207 stroke survivors. Quality of life was assessed using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL) questionnaire. Demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, stroke subtype, time to hospital admission, and functional status measured by the Barthel Index were collected. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent predictors of quality of life. Results: The mean SS-QoL score in the study population was 181.8 ± 33.2. Younger patients (<60 years) had significantly higher quality of life than older patients. Patients without hypertension also reported higher quality of life than those with hypertension. Quality of life differed across levels of functional dependency, with patients with severe dependency demonstrating substantially lower quality of life. In multivariable regression analysis, the Barthel Index (Coef = 1.18, p < 0.001) and age (Coef = −0.38, p = 0.011) remained independent predictors of quality of life. Conclusion: Functional independence and age are key determinants of quality of life among stroke survivors. Rehabilitation strategies that focus on improving functional ability may play an essential role in enhancing long-term well-being after stroke.