Factors Affecting the Quality of Life After Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults

Assessment of the impact of stroke on eight domains relating to self-rated quality of life, self-perceived disability, and global recovery after stroke (i.e., strength, hand function, mobility, physical and instrumental activities of daily living, memory and thinking, communication, emotion, and social participation). Scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, and higher scores indicate a better health related quality of life

Assessment of four domains relating to quality of life (Physical health, Psychological domain, Social relationships, Environment). The four domain scores are scaled in a positive direction with higher scores indicating a higher quality of life. The domain scores will be transformed in accordance with two transformation methods outlined in the WHOQOL-BREF scoring instructions. The domain scores will be transformed into scores ranging between 4 and 20 points (the first transformation method) or into a linear scale between 0 and 100 points (the second transformation method)

Measure of performance in activities of daily living. Measure of performance in activities of daily living. Scores of 10 personal activities range from 0 to 100 points and higher score indicates greater independence.

Scale used for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities in patients after stroke. Most widely used clinical outcome measure after stroke. Scale has six points and higher score means worse outcome; minimum is 0 points indicating no symptoms at all and maximum is 6 points indicating death.

Assessment of depressive and anxiety symptoms using Beck Depression Inventory II and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.

Assessment of cognitive functions (cognitive test measuring specific cognitive domains). The MoCA generates a total score and six domain-specific index scores: Memory, Executive Functioning, Attention, Language, Visuospatial, and Orientation. MoCA score range between 0 and 30. Higher score indicates better cognitive functions. The following ranges are used to grade the severity of cognitive impairment: 18-25 = mild cognitive impairment, 10-17= moderate cognitive impairment and less than 10= severe cognitive impairment.

Semi-structured interviews with stroke patients

NIHSS is used to objectively quantify the impairment caused by a stroke. Higher score indicates more severe neurological deficit.

Assessment of post-stroke fatigue using Fatigue Severity Scale. A self-report scale of nine items about fatigue, its severity and how it affects certain activities. The minimum score is nine and the highest is 63 points. The higher score indicates more severe fatigue and greater affecting of the person's activities.

Includes questions on site of pain, severity of pain, and how pain interfered with the patient's mood, walking ability, normal work, relations with other people, sleep, and enjoyment of life. These questions are rated on a scale of 0 to 10; a higher score indicates greater pain or greater interference with the daily activities.

The Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) assesses different sources of support. The MSPSS is a brief 12-item, self-administered measurement tool with three subscales: Family, Friends, and Significant Others. A higher score indicates greater social support perceived by an individual; the total possible score ranges between 12 and 84 points.