title: Previous leisure-time physical activity dose dependently decreases ischemic stroke severity.
abstract: In the present subanalysis of a cross-sectional study showing the favorable effect of prior transient ischemia, leisure-time physical activity, and lipid-lowering drug therapy on stroke severity, we aimed to evaluate whether previous physical activity was dose dependently associated to minor stroke (NIHSS 0-3) and to identify possible underlying factors. Among 362 consecutive patients, less severe stroke was related to weekly exercise duration prior to stroke (no exercise: 36.1%; <2 hours: 49.3%; 2-5 hours: 58.8%; >5 hours: 64.0%; P = 0.003). Only weak and moderate exercise practices were protective (weak: 50.0%; moderate: 79.3%; heavy: 22.2%; P < 0.0001). Such a beneficial effect was observed independently of age and was associated with a trend to a lower frequency of arterial hypertension, alcohol abuse, and a better metabolic profile. Besides other therapeutic approaches, physical activity may be a simple way to decrease cerebral ischemia severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University Lille-North of France, 1 Place Verdun, 59045 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deplanque
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Masse
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Libersa
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leys
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bordet