title: Social activity one and three years post-stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the long-term course of social activity after a stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a first-ever supratentorial stroke were selected in 4 Dutch rehabilitation centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  Social activity was measured by the Frenchay Activities Index (FAI) at 1 and 3 years post-stroke to determine social activity. Changes in FAI scores ≥ 7 points were considered real change.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 190 patients were available for analysis. The mean FAI score was stable between 1 and 3 years post-stroke. A decline in social activity was seen in 12% of all individuals and improvement in another 12%. Inactivity at 1 year post-stroke was strongly associated with inactivity at 3 years post-stroke (odds ratio (OR) = 19.9; 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.1-43.3). Motor impairment of the leg (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.15-0.97) and being socially inactive at 1 year post-stroke (OR = 0.19; 95% CI 0.04-0.84) were associated with a lower risk of decline in FAI scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the majority of stroke patients, the level of social activity is stable during the chronic phase (beyond 1 year post-stroke). Only 1 in 10 patients showed improvement, and 1 in 10 declined. The level of social activity at 1 year post-stroke is indicative of the level of social activity at 3 years post-stroke. Rehabilitation professionals should focus their follow-up programmes on patients inactive at 1 year post-stroke, as this group is at risk for chronic inactivity, and should be stimulated to achieve social reintegration.
authors: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience and Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht and Rehabilitation Center De Hoogstraat, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Hanna E
authors: HE
authors: Jansen
authors: Vera P
authors: VP
authors: Schepers
authors: Johanna M
authors: JM
authors: Visser-Meily
authors: Marcel W
authors: MW
authors: Post
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058992:Social Participation; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation