Relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study of 1,140 individuals

Authors

  • Yihao Wang Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Jiali Chen Department of Medicine, Shinshu University, Nagano-ken, Japan
  • Yanwei Zou Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Mengshu Yang Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Xiaoyun Kong Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Ling Wang Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Jingyuan Xue Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China
  • Ci Dong Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v57.41272

Keywords:

stroke, depression, physical activity, NHANES data, propensity score matching

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors.

Design: A cross-sectional study utilizing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018 data, employing propensity score matching to control for confounders.

Patients: 1,140 stroke survivors from NHANES, assessing depressive symptoms through the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) conducted via family interview or a mobile examination centre examination.

Methods: PA was surveyed concurrently with the PHQ-9, categorized into vigorous, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous intensities. Propensity score matching was used to match participants based on their activity levels, and the relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms was analysed by logistic regression.

Results: Among all the subjects, 225 individuals had significant depressive symptoms. If vigorous-intensity PA duration is longer than 75 min (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95% CI 0.21–0.75) or longer than 150 min (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19–0.85), and moderate-intensity physical activity duration is longer than 150 min (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.38–0.90) or between 150 and 300 min (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.15–0.77), and moderate-to-vigorous PA duration is greater than 150 min (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.40–0.91) or exceeding 300 min (OR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.31–0.78), this might be associated with lower depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: Regular physical activity, particularly of moderate or higher intensity, is associated with milder depressive symptoms in stroke survivors, suggesting the potential for non-pharmacological intervention.

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Published

2025-01-08

How to Cite

Wang, Y., Chen, J., Zou, Y., Yang, M., Kong, X., Wang, L., … Dong, C. (2025). Relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in stroke survivors: a cross-sectional study of 1,140 individuals. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 57, jrm41272. https://doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v57.41272

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