Reduced physical activity level was associated with poorer quality of life during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: a sub-study of the last-long trial.
Anne Hokstad, Bente Thommessen, Håkon Ihle-Hansen and 3 others
PMID 38058014WHAT IT FOUND
Stroke survivors who reported less physical activity during lockdown were significantly more likely to report poorer quality of life.
This association remained after adjusting for loneliness, mental health, and social activity. No participants reported improved activity or quality of life.
Key findings
01In multivariate analysis, reduced physical activity was the only factor significantly associated with poorer quality of life, with an odds ratio of 4.04.
02Sixty-eight percent of stroke survivors reported less physical activity compared with before the pandemic.
03The most common reasons for reduced activity were impaired function after the stroke, worries about getting infected, and closed training facilities.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that reduced activity caused poorer quality of life; the relationship could be reversed. Physical activity was self-reported, which often leads to overestimation. It is difficult to distinguish whether reduced activity was due to the pandemic restrictions or natural recovery/decline after stroke, as both occurred concurrently. The sample was relatively healthy, with 90% independent (mRS 0-2), so findings may not apply to more severely disabled stroke survivors. The questionnaire was not validated for this specific purpose.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that increasing physical activity will improve quality of life. The study is cross-sectional and cannot establish causation. Additionally, the association between activity and quality of life was found in a specific context (pandemic lockdown) and may not generalize to all stroke survivors or settings.