Self-rated health determinants in post-stroke individuals

Objective: To investigate whether variables of function and disability, which have potential to be modified by rehabilitation, are determinants of self-rated health in post-stroke individuals in the chronic phase. Design: Cross-sectional exploratory study. Methods: The dependent variable was self-rated health. The independent variables were organized according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health components: Body structure and function (emotional function and motor recovery level), Activity (manual and locomotion skill), and Participation (participation). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant associations between the independent varia-bles and self-rated health (α = 5%). Results: Sixty-three individuals were included in the study: 44 (70%) rated their own health as good ("excellent"/"very good"/"good") and 19 (30%) as poor ("fair"/"poor"). Significant association with self-rated health was identified only for emotional function. Individuals with impaired emotional function were 6.6 times more likely to assess their own health as poor (odds ratio (OR) 6.56; 95% confidence interval 1.53–28.21). Conclusion: Emotional function was found to be a determinant of self-rated health in post-stroke individuals in the chronic phase and, therefore, must be assessed carefully in order to help provide integral healthcare and improve clinical decision-making. Future studies should investigate whether enhancing emotional function is associated with improvements in self-rated health in post-stroke individuals.