Abstract W P381: Type and Duration of Exercise in the SAMMPRIS Trial

Abstract

Background: Previous analyses of SAMMPRIS trial data showed that good risk factor control resulted in a significant reduction in the risk of vascular events (stroke, MI, and vascular death), with exercise as the most important predictor of good outcome. We sought to determine the type and duration of exercise that SAMMPRIS patients reported during the trial. Methods: In SAMMPRIS, 451 patients with recent TIA or stroke attributed to 70-99% intracranial stenosis were randomized to aggressive medical management (AMM) alone or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting plus AMM at 50 USA sites. AMM included a telephonic lifestyle modification program, INTERVENT, that was provided free of charge to all subjects during their participation in the study. We analyzed self-reported data collected by INTERVENT on the patients’ type and duration of exercise from baseline (n= 394) to 4 years (n=34). We calculated the mean duration for each exercise type at each time period and then compared the change in exercise duration from baseline using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results: Data from subjects who completed the INTERVENT questionnaires were included in these analyses. As shown in the Figure, walking was the most common form of exercise at all time points, as measured by both the duration of exercise and the number of patients performing the exercise. The mean duration of walking and other aerobic activities increased significantly from baseline to all other time points. Conclusions: The type of self-reported exercise performed by SAMMPRIS patients included mostly walking or other aerobic activity and increased significantly during follow-up. Given that exercise was protective against recurrent vascular events, future secondary prevention stroke trials should encourage and monitor exercise participation and neurologists should encourage physical activity in clinical practice.