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1: Region Västra Götaland, Sweden; 2: University of Gothenburg, Sweden; 3: Unviersity of Umeå, Sweden
Introduction Physical activity is a well-established protective factor for non-communicable diseases, including stroke. Beyond prevention, pre-stroke physical activity may also influence recovery trajectories following stroke. Active transportation, such as walking or cycling to work, has been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, but its potential relationship with post-stroke recovery remains largely unexplored. This study investigates whether active transportation and leisure-time physical activity prior to stroke are associated with early and later post-stroke recovery outcomes.
Methods This registry-based cohort study included 3,507 individuals with first-ever stroke from the Västerbotten Intervention Programme linked with national health registries. Transportation mode to and from work was self-reported for four seasons and classified as the predominant annual mode if reported in at least three seasons (walking, bicycling, bus, or car). Leisure-time exercise during the previous three months was categorized as no regular exercise, 1–2 times/week, or ≥2 times/week.
Two outcomes were examined: number of hospital days after stroke and dependency in activities of daily living (toilett, dressing, moving) at three months (Riksstroke follow-up). Adjusted models included age, sex, level of consciousness at admission (proxy for stroke severity), education, risky alcohol consumption, and leisure-time physical activity (in transport models). Logistic regression and negative binomial regression were used.
Preliminary Results Higher age and reduced consciousness at admission were significantly associated with both greater ADL dependency at three months and a higher number of hospital days. No statistically significant associations were observed between transportation mode or leisure-time physical activity and either outcome after adjustment.
