title: Upright activity within the first week after stroke is associated with better functional outcome and health-related quality of life: A Norwegian multi-site study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the amount of early upright activity of patients managed in Norwegian stroke units and its association with functional outcome and health-related quality of life 3 months later.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational multi-centre study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 390 acute stroke patients, mean age 76.8 years, 48.1% men, less than 14 days post-stroke, recruited from 11 Norwegian stroke units.
  
  
  METHODS
  Time spent in different activity categories (in bed, sitting out of bed, upright) was observed with a standard method. Outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and health-related quality of life by EuroQol-5 Dimension 5 level (EQ-5D-5L) 3 months later. Ordinal logistic and linear regression analyses were used to examine the association between activity categories and mRS and EQ-5D-5L, respectively. Age, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, premorbid mRS, sex, and hospital-site were added as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for poorer functional outcome (higher mRS) decreased as time spent in upright activities increased (OR 0.97 (95% CI 0.94-1.00)). There was also a significant positive association between time in upright activity and higher EQ-5D-5L, Beta 0.184 (95% CI 0.001- 0.008) 3 months later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the beneficial effect of upright activity applied during hospital stay in Norwegian stroke units.
authors: Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. anne.hokstad@ntnu.no.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Hokstad
authors: Bent
authors: B
authors: Indredavik
authors: Julie
authors: J
authors: Bernhardt
authors: Birgitta
authors: B
authors: Langhammer
authors: Mari
authors: M
authors: Gunnes
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Lundemo
authors: Martina Reiten
authors: MR
authors: Bovim
authors: Torunn
authors: T
authors: Askim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation