Abstract
BackgroundRestrictions in social and leisure activity can have negative consequences for the health and well-being of stroke survivors. To support the growing number of people who are ageing with stroke, knowledge is needed about factors that influence such activity in a long-term perspective.AimTo identify long-term predictors of the frequency of social and leisure activities 10 years after stroke.Method145 stroke survivors in Sweden were followed-up at16 months and 10 years after a first-ever stroke. Data representing body functions, activities & participation, environmental factors and personal factors at 16 months after stroke, were used in multiple linear regression analyses to identify predictors of the activity frequency after 10 years, as assessed by the ‘Community, social and civic life’ sub-domain of the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI-CSC).ResultsAt the 10-year follow-up the frequency of social and leisure activities varied considerably among the participants, with FAI-CSC scores spanning the entire score range 0–9 (mean/median 4.9/5.0). Several factors at 16 months post stroke were independently related to the long-term activity frequency. The final regression model included four significant explanatory variables. Driving a car (B = 0.999), ability to walk a few hundred meters (B = 1.698) and extent of social network (B = 1.235) had a positive effect on activity frequency, whereas an age ≥ 75 years had a negative effect (B = -1.657). This model explained 36.9% of the variance in the FAI-CSC (p<0.001).ConclusionStroke survivors who drive a car, have the ability to walk a few hundred meters and have a wide social network at 16 months after a first-ever stroke are more likely to have a high frequency of social and leisure activities after 10 years, indicating that supporting outdoor mobility and social anchorage of stroke survivors during rehabilitation is important to counteract long-term inactivity.
Highlights
Stroke is one of the primary causes of complex disability in Sweden and globally [1] and is related to extensive long-term costs for healthcare, rehabilitation and productivity loss [2]
Several factors at 16 months post stroke were independently related to the long-term activity frequency
Even though survival rates have improved substantially many stroke survivors experience long-term physical and cognitive disabilities, which often lead to restrictions in activity and social participation [6, 7]
Summary
Stroke is one of the primary causes of complex disability in Sweden and globally [1] and is related to extensive long-term costs for healthcare, rehabilitation and productivity loss [2]. Even though survival rates have improved substantially many stroke survivors experience long-term physical and cognitive disabilities, which often lead to restrictions in activity and social participation [6, 7]. The few existing follow-up studies that extend beyond five years have mainly focused on survival and disability rates [9, 10]. Taking into consideration that engagement in social and leisure activities is related to subjective well-being and to improved health, functional recovery and survival after stroke [14,15,16], research on how to promote such activities in a long-term perspective has not gained sufficient attention. To support the growing number of people who are ageing with stroke, knowledge is needed about factors that influence such activity in a long-term perspective
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