Associations between pre-stroke physical activity levels and health-related quality of life 3 months after stroke: A registry-based study (part of PAPSIGOT).

BackgroundWhether pre-stroke physical activity is associated with health-related quality of life after stroke has been sparsely investigated.AimsTo explore associations between pre-stroke physical activity and health-related quality of life 3 months after stroke onset.MethodsA consecutively collected cohort study with data from registries. Included were adult patients with first stroke in the period 2014-2018 who were hospitalised at any one of the three stroke units in Gothenburg, Sweden. Pre-stroke physical activity was assessed with the Saltin-Grimby physical activity-level scale after hospital admission for acute stroke. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the EQ-5D-5L 3 months after stroke. Data were analysed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and binary logistic regression.ResultsData were included from 2044 patients; 91% had ischemic stroke, 46% were female, mean age was 73 years, with mild stroke severity median NIHSS of 2. Patients who were pre-stroke physically active reported better overall health-related quality of life by the EQ-5D-5L index value, all the domains in EQ-5D-5L, and the EQ-VAS compared with pre-stroke physically inactive patients (all p < 0.001). Better health-related quality of life 3 months after stroke was associated with pre-stroke light and moderate physical activity: adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval), 1.9 (1.5-2.3) and 2.3 (1.5-3.4), respectively.ConclusionPre-stroke physical activity is associated with better health-related quality of life 3 months after stroke. For the domains of mobility, self-care, and usual activities, physical activity with higher intensity is even more beneficial.