Abstract
Background: Functional recovery after ischemic stroke varies considerably, and real-world Indian data evaluating longitudinal outcomes after secondary preventive therapy remain limited. Although antiplatelets and statins are routinely prescribed following ischemic stroke, their effect on functional recovery assessed using standardized disability scales requires further evaluation.
Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 106 patients with ischemic stroke. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index (BI), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) scale at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 weeks. Statistical analysis included the Friedman test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, chi-square test, and Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: Most patients were male (55.66%) and older than 50 years (78.3%). Hypertension (78.3%) and diabetes mellitus (56.6%) were the predominant comorbidities. At baseline, 58.5% of patients had moderate-to-severe disability (mRS 3–5). Mean mRS score significantly decreased from 3.33 ± 1.62 at baseline to 2.03 ± 1.17 at week 18 (p < 0.001), and functional independence (mRS 0–1) was achieved in 43.4% of patients. The mean Barthel Index improved from 51.37 ± 20.93 to 80.25 ± 12.45 (p < 0.001). Moderate-to-good quality of life was reported in 83.96% of patients at 18 weeks. Stroke severity showed a significant association with SS-QOL (p = 0.021), with a weak but significant correlation between mRS and SS-QOL scores (ρ = 0.128, p = 0.042). Better lipid control was associated with improved recovery.
Conclusion: Antiplatelet and statin therapy was associated with significant improvement in disability, functional independence, and quality of life over 18 weeks. The Modified Rankin Scale provides a practical tool for monitoring recovery in routine clinical practice.