Self-rated health after stroke: a systematic review of the literature

Background Self-rated health (SRH) allows for comparison and identification of the health status of various populations. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to expand the understanding of SRH after stroke. Methods This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017056194) and conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies published until December 2018 that evaluated the SRH of adults with stroke were included. Results Of the 2132 identified studies, 51 were included. Only four studies had experimental designs (7.8%). In 60.7% of the studies, SRH was assessed by variations on direct questions (i.e., general and comparative SRH). Analog visual scales and quality of life instruments were also used to evaluate SRH, but there is no consensus regarding whether they are appropriate for this purpose. The results of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies revealed significant associations between poor SRH and stroke as well as between SRH, function, and disability. The power of SRH to predict stroke mortality is still uncertain. Two interventions (a home-based psychoeducational program concerning stroke health care and family involvement in functional rehabilitation) effectively improved SRH. Conclusions Direct questions are the most common method of evaluating SRH after stroke. Studies reported significant associations between the SRH of individuals with stroke and several relevant health outcomes. However, few experimental studies have evaluated SRH after stroke. Interventions involving health education and family involvement had a significant impact on SRH.