Health-related quality of life (QOL) metrics are increasingly recognized as complementary to traditional functional scales in stroke outcomes research. This multicenter, prospective, observational study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases assessed 90-day QOL in patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). 

The primary outcome was the 90-day EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level index (EQ index; range −0.573 to 1), and the secondary outcome was the Visual Analog Scale (VAS; range 0-100). Spearman coefficients assessed correlations between QOL measures and the 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and linear regression identified associated factors.

A total of 212 subjects were included (mean age 68.4 ± 14.7 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 15 (interquartile range 10-20). The mean EQ index was 0.45 ± 0.42, and median VAS was 75 (IQR 60–90). More than 40% of participants reported at least slight problems in each QOL domain, and nearly 80% reported problems in at least one domain. EQ index correlated strongly with 90-day mRS in the full cohort (rs = −0.912; p < 0.001) and among survivors (rs = −0.709; p<0.001). Blood volume index, premorbid mRS, cerebral and length of stay appeared associated with both EQ index and VAS in multivariable analyses.

Ninety-day QOL measures may provide adjunct information to mRS scoring after EVT. QOL assessment may provide adjunctive information beyond mRS scoring in selected patients.