Relationship between pre-stroke physical activity and symptoms of post-stroke anxiety and depression: An observational study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES\nTo explore mechanisms affecting mental health in patients with stroke. The aims were to investigate the association between pre-stroke physical activity and symptoms of anxiety and depression 3 months after stroke, and to investigate how self-reported physical activity changed from before to 3 months after the stroke.\n\n\nDESIGN\nSecondary analyses of a prospective observational multicentre study.\n\n\nPATIENTS\nStroke patients from 11 Norwegian stroke units.\n\n\nMETHODS\nSymptoms of anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and physical activity was assessed by self-report. Negative binomial regression was used to analyse associations.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe analysed sample consisted of 205 patients; mean (standard deviation; SD) age was 74 (11.5) years; 46% were women. Higher activity levels before stroke were associated with fewer symptoms of depression in multivariable analyses with regression coefficient (95% confidence intervals) of 0.84 (0.73-0.97), p\u2009=\u20090.015. Eighty-five (41.5%) patients reported similar activity levels before and after stroke.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nIn this group of patients with mild symptoms of emotional distress, it seems that pre-stroke physical activity might be protective against post-stroke depression, but not anxiety. Many patients with mild-to-moderate stroke report being equally active before and after the stroke.