Relationship between mobility, social participation, and quality of life after stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Mobility limitations commonly occur in post-stroke patients, frequently associated with restricted social participation and reduced quality of life. However, the literature is yet to clearly define the relationship between these factors. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of observational studies to investigate the relationship between mobility, social participation, and quality of life in post-stroke patients. Methods: This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023368824). PubMed, EMBASE, and LILACS were systematically searched following the PRISMA guidelines in December 2024. The selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment of the studies were conducted by two independent reviewers, with conflict resolution by a third reviewer. The ARHQ Methodology Checklist was used to assess the methodological quality of cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort studies. The Best Evidence Synthesis system was used to assess the quality of evidence in this review. Results: Of the 350 retrieved studies, eight met the eligibility criteria. Of these, two assessed the relationship between mobility and social participation, whereas six, the relationship between mobility and quality of life. The studies showed a limited level of evidence as all had moderate methodological quality (the scores of which ranged 50 from 80%). Conclusion: Despite evidence of a relationship between mobility, social participation, and quality of life, conclusions require careful interpretation due to the methodological limitations of the retrieved studies and the heterogeneity of the used scales.