Depressive symptoms and disability in chagasic stroke patients: Impact on functionality and quality of life

Abstract Introduction Chagas disease (CD) is associated with stroke, which can result in significant long-term disability. Stroke has also been associated with depressive symptoms, which affect functional performance and quality of life (QOL). Few data are available on the effect of chagasic stroke on functional performance and QOL. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the correlation of stroke disability and depressive symptoms with functional performance and QOL in chagasic stroke patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, stroke sequelae were assessed using the Modified Rankin Stroke Scale (MRSS), depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), functional performance using the Barthel Index (BI), and QOL using the WHOQOL-BREF. Results Twenty-one patients with CD and a previous diagnosis of stroke were included. There was a correlation between the MRSS score and the BI score (r = − 0.663, p = 0.003), but not the scores of the WHOQOL-BREF subscales. The BDI score was correlated with the WHOQOL-BREF subscale scores (Physical: r = − 0.733, p = 0.001; Psychological: r = − 0.581, p = 0.012; Social: r = − 0.713, p = 0.001; Environmental: r = − 0.659, p = 0.003). However, the BDI score was not associated with the BI score (r = 0.279, p = 0.262). Conclusions QOL in patients with CD appears to be influenced more by depressive symptoms than by the motor-associated consequences of stroke. Conversely, motor sequelae impair the functionality of the patient more than depressive symptoms.