Physical Activity and Diet Quality Modify the Association between Comorbidity and Disability among Stroke Patients

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Comorbidity is prevalent in stroke patients, significantly worsening outcomes.
• Understanding factors that mitigate comorbidity's impact is crucial for stroke care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how physical activity (PA) and diet quality modify the relationship between comorbidity and disability in stroke survivors.
• To identify potential interventions for improving stroke outcomes in patients with multiple health conditions.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 951 stable stroke patients in Vietnam.
• Data collected via questionnaires on demographics, comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index), PA (IPAQ-short), diet quality (DASH-Q), and disability (WHODAS II).
• Linear regression models analyzed associations and interaction effects.

Main Results:

• Nearly half of the patients (49.9%) had comorbidity, associated with higher disability scores (B=8.24, p<0.001).
• Higher levels of physical activity and better diet quality (DASH-Q scores) were linked to lower disability scores in comorbid patients.
• Physical activity and diet quality significantly reduced the disability burden associated with comorbidity.

Conclusions:

• Physical activity and diet quality are significant modifiers of the negative impact of comorbidity on stroke-related disability.
• Promoting PA and healthy diets is essential for enhancing stroke rehabilitation and patient outcomes.
• Targeted strategies focusing on lifestyle factors can improve the management of comorbid conditions in stroke survivors.