Association Between Pre-Stroke Physical Activity Patterns Assessed by the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire and...

Background/Objectives: This study investigated the association between pre-stroke physical activity (PA) assessed using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire (BPAQ) and functional status after a first-ever ischemic stroke (IS). Methods: This prospective cohort study included 91 patients who had had their first-ever IS and were admitted for inpatient rehabilitation. Functional status was assessed using the Barthel Index (BI) at rehabilitation admission, discharge, and three months after discharge. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) were adjusted for age, sex, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and the number of comorbidities. Predictors of BI ≥ 91 were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: BI improved significantly over follow-up (p < 0.001). Pre-stroke PA was associated with BI in the adjusted LMM (p = 0.021), whereas the time-by-BPAQ interaction was not significant (p = 0.952). Initial BI was associated with subsequent BI scores (p < 0.001). The work and leisure-time indices were associated with BI (p = 0.033 and p = 0.030), whereas the Sport Index was not (p = 0.089). None of the domain-by-time interactions were significant. Higher BI at rehabilitation admission was associated with higher odds of BI ≥ 91 at discharge and three months after discharge (OR = 1.11, p < 0.001; OR = 1.05, p = 0.015). Conclusions: Pre-stroke PA assessed using the BPAQ was associated with functional status across the observed time points, but there was no evidence that it was associated with a different longitudinal trajectory of BI recovery.