Daniëlla M. Oosterveer, Radha Rambaran Mishre, Andrea van Oort, Karin Bodde, Leo A. M. Aerden
Rijnlands Rehabilitation Centre, 2333AL Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: dmo@rrc.nl
DOI: 10.2340/16501977-2199

Objective: Life satisfaction is reduced in stroke patients. However, as a rule, rehabilitation goals are not aimed at life satisfaction, but at activities and participation. In order to optimize life satisfaction in stroke patients, rehabilitation should take into account the determinants of life satisfaction. The aim of this study was therefore to determine what factors are independent determinants of life satisfaction in a large group of patients early after stroke.
Methods: Stroke-surviving patients were examined by a specialized nurse 6 weeks after discharge from hospital or rehabilitation setting. A standardized history and several screening lists, including the Lisat-9, were completed. Step-wise regression was used to identify independent determinants of life satisfaction.
Results: A total of 284 stroke-surviving patients were included in the study. Of these, 117 answered all of the Lisat-9 questions. Most patients (66. 5%) rated their life as a whole as “satisfying” or “very satisfying”. More depressive symptoms were independently associated with lower life satisfaction (p < 0. 001).
Conclusion: Most stroke-surviving patients are satisfied with their life early after a stroke. The score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression items is independently associated with life satisfaction. Physicians should therefore pay close attention to the mood of these patients.

The importance of the mood of patients suffering from a stroke
In this study we examined whether patients who suffered from a stroke were satisfied of their life or not. It appears that most patients are satisfied of their lives as a whole. We also examined which factors are involved in being satisfied after a stroke. The only factor that was convincingly involved was depressive symptoms: when patient experienced more depressive symptoms they were more often not satisfied with their lives. Physicians should therefore pay close attention to the mood of patients who suffered from a stroke.