The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with disease-related stigma after hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke survivors may experience disease-related stigma. This can impede physical and social recovery. Improved understanding of disease-related stigma after hemorrhagic stroke may allow for interventions to reduce stigma and promote positive self-perception to ultimately improve care.

We included 89 patients in this study (56 ICH and 33 SAH). The median age was 63 (IQR 50-69), 43% were women, and 58% graduated from college. Admission median GCS score was 15 (IQR 13-15) and APACHE II score was 12 (IQR 9-17). 64% of patients had poor functional outcome and 31% had disease-related stigma. On univariate analysis, disease-related stigma was associated with female sex, college graduation, GCS score on admission, APACHE II score on admission, and 3-month mRS score (all p<0.05). On multivariate analysis, disease-related stigma was associated with female sex (OR = 3.75, 95% CI = 1.21-11.58, p = 0.02) and 3-month mRS score 3-5 (OR = 4.23, 95% CI = 1.21-14.75, p = 0.02).

Poor functional outcome and female sex are associated with disease-related stigma 3-months after hemorrhagic stroke. Because disease-related stigma may negatively affect recovery, there is a need to improve understanding of the relationship between these factors and identify ways to prevent and address stigma.