The long-term consequences of subarachnoid haemorrhage. 2: Prevalence of instrumental ADL disabilities

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Abstract
A total of 244 long-term survivors of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were examined at a follow-up concerning change in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). A decrease from previous independence prevailed for 51 % of the sample. As expected, home-maintenance activities were more common pre-SAH for women than for men, and for these activities post-SAH disabilities were most frequently recorded for married/cohabiting women. Using factor analysis, IADL items could be grouped into three different factors characterizing: (a) domestic and social activities, (b) administrative chores and (c) handling money or the telephone. Two of these factors were logically associated with two or three impairments (language, motor, perception, long- and short-term memory). Since IADL disabilities are common among long- term survivors of SAH, the need for rehabilitation and occupational therapy is discussed briefly.