Upright activity within the first week after stroke is associated with better functional outcome and health related quality of life: A Norwegian multi site study.
OBJECTIVE To assess the amount of early upright activity of patients managed in Norwegian stroke units and its association with functional outcome and health related quality of life 3 months later. DESIGN A prospective observational multi centre study. SUBJECTS A total of 390 acute stroke patients, mean age 76.8 years, 48.1% men, less than 14 days post stroke, recruited from 11 Norwegian stroke units. METHODS Time spent in different activity categories (in bed, sitting out of bed, upright) was observed with a standard method. Outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and health related quality of life by EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 level (EQ 5D 5L) 3 months later. Ordinal logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between activity categories and mRS and EQ 5D 5L, respectively. Age, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, premorbid mRS, sex, and hospital site were added as covariates. RESULTS The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI) for poorer functional outcome (higher mRS) decreased as time spent in upright activities increased (OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94 1.00) There was also a significant positive association between time in upright activity and higher EQ 5D 5L, Beta 0.184 (95% CI 0.001 0.008) 3 months later. CONCLUSION This study confirms the beneficial effect of upright activity applied during hospital stay in Norwegian stroke units.
Journal of rehabilitation medicine