Oral Presentation Australian and New Zealand Stroke Organisation Conference 2026

Employment impacts of stroke among stroke survivors and their informal carers (139644)

Mulugeta Molla Birhanu 1 2 , Joosup Kim 1 2 , Ella Zomer 3 , Mikayla Reboe 1 , Lachlan Dalli 1 , Stella Talic 3 , Monique Kilkenny 1 , Dominique Cadilhac 1 2
  1. Medicine , Stroke and Ageing Research, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  2. The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Background:

Stroke can substantially reduce work productivity for both survivors and informal carers; yet contemporary Australian evidence is limited. We aimed to generate new data on these productivity impacts of stroke.

 

Methods:

Cross-sectional survey of adults from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry requesting productivity impact information from pre-stroke and post-stroke (one-year) using an adapted, validated productivity cost questionnaire. Data on workforce participation and unpaid care provided by informal carer were collected. Where applicable, informal carers were invited to provide data on paid work. Paper-based survey was sent with optional electronic completion.

 

Results:

To date, 205 stroke survivors (response rate 30%; median age: 75 years, 66% male) and 120 informal carers (51%; median age of 71 years, 74% female) have responded.

Among stroke survivors, 109 (56%) reported having an informal carer (whereby 16% had a carer prior to stroke). One-in-three (35%) survivors reported working in the year prior to stroke, whereby 53% did not return to work post-stroke. Of those who did return to work (47%), 34% reported working decreased hours (average 17 hours/week) compared to prior-stroke. Participants received an average 16 hours [25th-75th percentile: 6-47 hours] of informal care/week post-stroke whereas this was 11 hours [25th-75th percentile: 5-26 hours] / week pre-stroke. Among informal carers, 39% were working prior to the participant’s stroke, and ~30% had not returned to work or were working decreased hours (42%).

 

Conclusion: There are considerable work productivity impacts on stroke survivors and informal carers. This new Australian data support updated cost-of-illness estimates in stroke.