Association between early post-stroke pain and quality of life in working-age patients: results from the FRAILTY study

OBJECTIVES: To assess early PSP in IS patients of working age and evaluate the possible impact of PSP on HRQoL at three months after IS. METHODS: Consecutive IS patients of working age (18-65 years) enrolled in the prospective FRAILTY (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04839887) were analysed. PSP was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at three months after IS. QoL was assessed using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) version 3.0 and Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQoL). Linear regression analysis was used to test PSP and other variables as possible predictors for perceived overall recovery after IS. RESULTS: In total, 138 (52.9 % males, mean age: 51.9 ± 8.4 years) were analysed. PSP was present in 34 (24.6 %) patients. Presence of PSP was associated with lower scores in all SIS domains except "communication" and "participation", and with lower scores in all NeuroQoL domains except "social roles" and "emotions". Linear regression analysis showed BPI interference as the only negative predictor of perceived overall HRQoL and recovery after IS (β=-0.824, p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: PSP was present in 24.6 % of patients of working age at three months after IS. The presence of PSP significantly affected HRQoL and had a negative impact on perceived overall recovery after IS. Early assessment of PSP and its management may contribute to better HRQoL and recovery after IS.