Abstract
Background: The association between pre-stroke PA and long-term stroke outcomes is still unclear. We examined the association of pre-stroke PA with adverse health outcomes after incident stroke in the ARIC study. Methods: We included 881 participants with incident ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke occurring between 1993-1995 and December 31 st , 2016. Follow-up for all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, CVD or recurrent stroke occurred through December 31 st , 2017, allowing for at least 1-year of follow-up after incident stroke. Pre-stroke total and domain-specific (work, sports and leisure) PA was assessed with the modified Baecke questionnaire at the baseline visit (1987-1989) and in 1993-1995. The total PA score was calculated by summing scores at both visits. Distribution-based tertiles of the summed score were derived. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the hazard ratios of adverse outcomes by tertiles of pre-stroke PA, adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: During a median follow-up of 3.1 years after incident stroke, 77% participants developed adverse outcome. Compared to low pre-stroke PA, high pre-stroke PA was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR=0.78; 95% CI: 0.63-0.97, Table). In the analysis by domain-specific PA, the risk of all-cause mortality was lowest among participants in the highest tertile of work PA (HR; 95% CI=0.77; 0.62-0.96) and leisure PA (HR=0.72; 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.89) compared to the lowest tertiles. The risk of CVD mortality was also lower in the highest tertile of work PA (HR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.29-0.70) compared to the lowest tertile. Conclusions: Higher levels of total pre-stroke PA, as well as work and leisure PA, were associated with a lower risk of mortality after incident stroke. Strategies to increase lifetime PA should be encouraged to decrease long-term mortality after stroke.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
