Reduced risk of intracerebral hemorrhage with dynamic recreational exercise but not with heavy work activity

It is unclear whether intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with dynamic or static exercise. Our aim was to assess whether such an association exists.

A case-control study was undertaken involving 331 consecutive cases of primary ICH and 331 age- and sex-matched community-based neighborhood controls. Cases, verified by CT or autopsy, were identified from 13 major hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. A questionnaire was used to elicit information about lifetime physical activity at leisure and work and other potentially confounding factors.

Individuals undertaking recent regular dynamic exercise exhibited an odds ratio (OR) for ICH of 0.63 (95% CI 0.39 to 1.01) when adjustment was made for all potential confounding factors, except hypertension, cholesterol, and body mass index. Among men and women separately, the ORs were 0.51 (95% CI 0.27 to 0.97) and 1.22 (95% CI 0.52 to 2.87), respectively. When hypertension, cholesterol, and body mass index were also included in the multivariate model, the OR among men was 0.57 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.14). There was no association between physical activity at work and ICH (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.25).

These results provide preliminary evidence for a role of exercise in reducing the likelihood of ICH among men. In women, the CI was wide, and the association was not statistically significant. There was further support that factors other than blood pressure status, cholesterol, and body mass index may play a role in the observed inverse association between dynamic exercise and ICH among men.