Accelerometer-Determined Physical Activity and All-Cause Mortality in a National Prospective Cohort Study of Adults Post-Acute Stroke

PURPOSE: No epidemiological study has examined the association of objectively measured physical activity with all-cause mortality among adults who have had a stroke, which was the purpose of this study. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003 to 2006. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighty-four patients with stroke. MEASURES: Physical activity assessed via accelerometry (ActiGraph 7164), with stroke assessed via self-report of physician diagnosis. Mortality was assessed via linkage with the National Death Index, with follow-up through 2011. ANALYSIS: Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 71.96 months, with 13 241 person-months; 53 deaths occurred during this follow-up period. After adjustments, for every 60 min/d increase in total physical activity, adults who have had a stroke had a 28% (hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval: 0.59-0.88) reduced risk of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: Physical activity among stroke survivors is inversely associated with all-cause mortality.