EVALUATION OF FUNCTIONALITY, DEPRESSION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN HEMIPLEGIC PATIENTS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of the functionality, mood and life quality of patients diagnosed with hemiplegia due to an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients (mean age, 62.0±6.43 years) diagnosed with hemiplegia due to stroke, who received 30 sessions of rehabilitation therapy, before the COVID-19 pandemic, were included in this study. Data regarding the participants’ age, gender, body mass index (BMI), duration of stroke, stroke type, affected side, and education level were recorded. All the assessments were undertaken before the COVID-19 pandemic and repeated at the first year after the beginning of the pandemic. The functional status of the patients was evaluated with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The depression levels of the participants were evaluated using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The life quality of the participants was evaluated using the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QOL). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the FIM total scores of the patients evaluated before and during COVID-19 (91.32±15.94 and 87.15±15.60, respectively, p<0.001).When the FIM domain scores were evaluated before COVID-19 and at the first-year control during COVID-19, the FIM self-care scores were 27.45±6.62 and 25.27±7.08, respectively, the FIM sphincter control scores were 10.10±2.56 and 9.39±2.87, respectively, the FIM transfers scores were 14.67±3.36 and 13.61±3.54, respectively, the FIM social cognition scores were 18.40±1.86 and 17.67±1.93 respectively (p<0.001). The BDI score was 10.06±3.18 before the pandemic and 13.66±3.04 at the first year of the pandemic, the SS-QOL scores was 136.48±29.63 before the pandemic and 133.63±29.63 at the first year evaluation (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays in both follow-up and rehabilitation therapy in patients with chronic hemiplegia. The functionality, life quality and mood of the patients have been affected due to the lack of therapy and social isolation