H Ellekjaer1, J Holmen, E Ellekjaer, L Vatten. 1. National Institute of Public Health, Community Medicine Research Unit, Verdal, Norway. verdalfh@online.no
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few studies have reported a protective effect of physical activity on stroke in women, particularly among elderly women. This study was conducted to examine the association between different levels of leisure-time physical activity and stroke mortality in a large prospective study of middle-aged and elderly women. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year mortality follow-up of women aged >/=50 years, free from stroke at baseline (n=14 101), who participated in the Nord-Trondelag Health Survey in Norway during 1984-1986. Main outcome measures were relative risk of stroke mortality according to increasing levels of physical activity, with the least active group used as reference. RESULTS: In groups aged 50 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 to 101 years, the relative risk of dying decreased with increasing physical activity, after adjustment for potentially confounding factors. In groups aged 50 to 69 and 70 to 79 years, the most active women had an adjusted relative risk of 0. 42 (95% CI, 0.24 to 0.75) and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.36 to 0.88), respectively. In the group aged 80 to 101 years, there was a consistent negative association with physical activity; the adjusted relative risk for the most active was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.30 to 1.09). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated with reduced risk of death from stroke in middle-aged and elderly women. This association persisted after we excluded individuals with prevalent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease at baseline and women who died during the first 2 years of follow-up. These observations strengthen the evidence that physical activity should be part of a primary prevention strategy against stroke in women.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few studies have reported a protective effect of physical activity on stroke in women, particularly among elderly women. This study was conducted to examine the association between different levels of leisure-time physical activity and stroke mortality in a large prospective study of middle-aged and elderly women. METHODS: We conducted a 10-year mortality follow-up of women aged >/=50 years, free from stroke at baseline (n=14 101), who participated in the Nord-Trondelag Health Survey in Norway during 1984-1986. Main outcome measures were relative risk of stroke mortality according to increasing levels of physical activity, with the least active group used as reference. RESULTS: In groups aged 50 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 to 101 years, the relative risk of dying decreased with increasing physical activity, after adjustment for potentially confounding factors. In groups aged 50 to 69 and 70 to 79 years, the most active women had an adjusted relative risk of 0. 42 (95% CI, 0.24 to 0.75) and 0.56 (95% CI, 0.36 to 0.88), respectively. In the group aged 80 to 101 years, there was a consistent negative association with physical activity; the adjusted relative risk for the most active was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.30 to 1.09). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was associated with reduced risk of death from stroke in middle-aged and elderly women. This association persisted after we excluded individuals with prevalent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease at baseline and women who died during the first 2 years of follow-up. These observations strengthen the evidence that physical activity should be part of a primary prevention strategy against stroke in women.
Authors: Darren Er Warburton; Sarah Charlesworth; Adam Ivey; Lindsay Nettlefold; Shannon Sd Bredin Journal: Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Date: 2010-05-11 Impact factor: 6.457
Authors: J Z Willey; Y P Moon; M C Paik; M Yoshita; C Decarli; R L Sacco; M S V Elkind; C B Wright Journal: Neurology Date: 2011-06-08 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Daniel T Lackland; Edward J Roccella; Anne F Deutsch; Myriam Fornage; Mary G George; George Howard; Brett M Kissela; Steven J Kittner; Judith H Lichtman; Lynda D Lisabeth; Lee H Schwamm; Eric E Smith; Amytis Towfighi Journal: Stroke Date: 2013-12-05 Impact factor: 7.914