Gender differences in physical activity and health-related behaviors among stroke survivors: data from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Physical activity and health-related behaviors are important in primary prevention of stroke and are also recommended for secondary prevention. Gender differences in physical activity and health-related behaviors have been reported in various populations and diseased states but data is lacking on stroke survivors.



To assess gender disparities in physical activity in stroke patients and to investigate possible reasons for such disparities.



This is a cross-sectional study using nationwide data from the 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). A total of 9539 participants (stroke (n = 170), non-stroke (n = 9369)) between the ages of 40-80, with no problems walking were included. Physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking of stroke survivors were assessed by gender and compared with non-stroke groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for insufficient physical activity and possible explanatory variables for gender differences.



Women showed higher prevalence of insufficient physical activity after adjusting for age (OR = 7.32, 95% CI: 1.89-28.32) compared to men. Medical conditions such as depression and comorbidities failed to explain the low physical activity in women with stroke but adding socioeconomic factors to the model nullified the gender difference in physical activity.



In order to reduce noted gender disparities in physical activity following stroke, more focused effort to increase physical activity in women, especially with lower socioeconomic status, has to be considered.
a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Seongnam-si , South Korea.
Yookyung
Y
Lee
a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Seongnam-si , South Korea.|b Gyeonggi Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center , Seongnam-si , South Korea.
Won-Seok
WS
Kim
a Department of Rehabilitation Medicine , Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital , Seongnam-si , South Korea.|b Gyeonggi Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center , Seongnam-si , South Korea.
Nam-Jong
NJ
Paik
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Stroke; alcohols; gender; health behavior; health status disparities; physical activity; smoking