Modifiable Factors Are Associated with Frailty in Individuals after Chronic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Frailty is a growing concern post-chronic stroke, worsening physical function and outcomes.
• Identifying modifiable factors is crucial for potential interventions.
• This study focuses on physical activity and walking speed as key modifiable variables.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physical activity levels and walking speed with frailty in chronic stroke survivors.
• To determine if these modifiable factors contribute to the presence of frailty.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study including adults over 18 with chronic stroke and walking ability.
• Frailty assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS).
• Physical activity measured by the Human Activity Profile, and walking speed by the 10-meter walk test.

Main Results:

• Physical activity alone explained 59.2% of frailty variance.
• Combined physical activity and walking speed explained 67.1% of frailty variance.
• Both factors showed significant association with frailty (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• The level of physical activity and habitual walking speed are significantly associated with frailty in chronic stroke individuals.
• Strategies to increase physical activity and walking speed could help prevent frailty.
• These findings offer potential targets for rehabilitation interventions to improve long-term outcomes.