The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of post-stroke patients in the southern region of Kazakhstan
Authors: Assylbek M.I. , Anartaуeva M. , Zharkynbekova N. , Sarsenbayeva G. , Kemelbekov K. 
Published: December 2024

The study subjects were patients from the Turkestan region who had experienced a stroke. The specificity of the sampling approach was to cover the widest possible range of individuals to ensure the representativeness of the results. The inclusion of patients from different age groups, genders, socio-economic statuses, and ethnic backgrounds allowed to obtain reliable results on the impact of the pandemic on the quality of life after a stroke in this region. Given that strokes differ in severity and consequences, the sample included patients with different forms and stages of post-stroke rehabilitation. The inclusion of such patients allowed to assess both the short-term and long-term impact of the pandemic on the quality of life in various subgroups of stroke survivors. The focus on the Turkestan region allowed to analyze the regional aspects of healthcare and social structure, as well as their impact on the availability of medical services and overall support for patients during the pandemic. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of patients who have had a stroke.
Materials and Methods: The sample was selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, which minimized possible data distortions, increased the accuracy and reliability of the research results, and the reliability of accounting for the specifics of the life of patients after a stroke in a pandemic. The inclusion criteria for the study covered patients over the age of 25 who had their first stroke - atherothrombotic, cardioembolic or lacunar type, confirmed by neuroimaging methods. Patients who have suffered a stroke and have cognitive impairments and, as a result, poor-quality responses are not included in the analysis results.  Patients received treatment in the rehabilitation department of the Medical Center "Mediker" in the Turkestan region. All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, confirmed by MRI or CT. Ischemic stroke was detected in 273 people (66.7%) in the middle cerebral artery, including 149 (37.6%) on the right and 124 (30%) on the left, and hemorrhagic stroke in 123 (32.4%) in the vertebrobasilar basin. Before participating in the study, all patients or their legal representatives signed an informed consent form. The ethical approval of the study was obtained from the ethics committee of JSC "SKMA" (protocol No. 4 dated March 31, 2022).
Results: The study showed a decrease in the quality of life with an increase in the age of patients, with the lowest indicators recorded in persons over 75 years of age, which is also confirmed by other studies. The best results on the SF 36 subscales were observed in middle-aged patients (44-60 years). However, according to another study, in a similar age group (45-64 years), the greatest decrease in QOL was recorded, possibly due to the unexpected nature of the stroke and its significant impact on lifestyle, as well as the lack of readiness to cope with the resulting stress.
Conclusions: The study of factors affecting the quality of life of post-stroke patients is important for predicting the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures and contributes to increasing their efficiency. Innovative approaches in rehabilitation, especially using telemedicine and digital technologies, offer more effective solutions for improving the quality of life of patients.