What is the benefit of a high-intensive exercise program on health-related quality of life and depression after stroke? A randomized controlled trial

Figures & data

Figure 1. Screening process, from stroke onset to final inclusion in the study.

Table I. Baseline characteristics of the participants.

	Intervention group, n=15	Control group, n=19
Sex (M/F)	9/6	12/7
Age	77.7±7.6	79.2±7.5
mRS^a	2.1±0.6	2.1±0.6
Inpatient rehabilitation, days at stroke unit	12.5±5.0	10.9±5.3
Days from stroke onset to study start	139.7±37.3	126.8±28.2
Diagnosis of depression	3	2
Use of medication, SSRI or other anti-depressants	6	4
Use of sleeping pills	4	6
Home-help service	5	9
MMSE^b	26.3±3.5	25.5±4.4
Fall risk index (19,37)
No	14	16
Low	1	0
Medium	0	3
High	0	0

Results are presented as proportion or mean ± SD. ^amRS, modified Rankin Scale. ^bMMSE, Mini Mental State Examination. SSRI, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors.

Table II. Repeated measure analyses for all outcome measurements at all follow-up assessments; SF-36 and GDS-15.

		Baseline				Post-Intervention				3 months post-intervention				6 months post-intervention
	Norms for the Swedish population aged 75+	Total study population, n=34	IG, n=15	CG, n=19	CI	Total study population, n=33	IG, n=14	CG, n=19	CI	Total study population, n=31	IG, n=13	CG, n=18	CI	Total study population, n=31	IG, n=13	CG, n=18	CI
SF-36
PCS	40.1±12.7	30.8±9.6	30.9±8.3	30.8±10.7	−6.9 to 6.8	32.8±11.3	32.2±10.6	33.2±12.0	−7.2 to 9.2	35.3±13.3	35.5±14.7	35.2±12.7	−10.4 to 9.8	35.3±12.8	35.3±13.3	35.4±12.9	−9.7 to 9.7
MCS	49.0±11.4	53.2±9.4	53.6±10.0	52.8±9.2	−7.5 to 5.9	54.6±10.0	54.4±10.3	54.8±10.0	−6.9 to 7.7	53.3±10.1	48.7±12.7*	56.7±6.2*	0.9 to 15.0*	53.3±12.0	50.4±15.0	55.4±9.3	−3.9 to 13.9
SF-36 PF
	59.0±30.1	45.8±20.8	45.7±21.7	45.8±20.6	−14.8 to 14.9	48.5±24.6	52.1±22.2	45.8±26.6	−24.2 to 11.5	52.1±26.1	56.5±25.5	48.9±26.8	−27.2 to 11.9	48.7±23.6	51.5±18.6	46.7±26.9	−22.6 to 12.9
RP	49.3±43.2	28.7±38.0	25.0±36.6	31.6±39.8	−20.5 to 33.6	33.3±37.9	21.4±27.5	42.1±42.5	−5.9 to 47.2	41.1±39.0	28.9±39.3	50.0±37.4	−7.3 to 49.6	47.6±41.5	44.2±41.0	50.0±42.9	−25.6 to 37.1
BP	63.2±30.2	64.6±26.6	62.0±19.5	66.6±31.5	−14.3 to 23.5	72.2±28.1	67.9±28.0	75.4±28.5	−12.9 to 27.8	70.7±33.2	66.2±32.4	74.0±34.4	−17.2 to 32.8	74.8±30.5	70.6±31.2	77.8±30.4	−15.7 to 30.1
GH	59.8±24.0	56.3±23.7	57.7±20.1	55.1±26.6	−19.5 to 14.2	56.3±26.8	57.8±28.8	55.3±26.1	−22.1 to 17.1	64.4±25.3	61.7±26.0	66.3±25.4	−14.5 to 23.7	62.0±25.1	60.8±24.1	62.8±26.4	−16.9 to 21.0
VT	54.2±30.0	50.6±18.7	51.0±14.7	50.3±21.8	−14.1 to 12.6	57.1±24.1	59.3±23.3	55.5±25.1	−21.3 to 13.7	53.2±23.5	46.2±19.0	58.3±25.7	−5.0 to 29.4	51.8±23.1	46.7±21.6	55.6±24.0	−8.3 to 26.0
SF	79.1±26.2	79.4±25.5	80.0±26.6	79.0±25.4	−19.3 to 17.2	86.0±23.5	84.8±29.1	86.8±19.3	−15.2 to 19.2	88.3±18.2	83.7±23.6	91.7±12.9	−5.5 to 21.5	90.3±20.3	85.6±25.9	93.8±15.0	−6.9 to 23.3
RE	64.0±41.8	81.4±35.0	73.3±42.2	87.7±27.7	−10.1 to 38.9	79.8±35.3	71.4±38.9	86.0±32.0	−10.7 to 39.7	81.7±35.3	66.7±43.0	92.6±24.4	1.1 to 50.8	83.0±34.3	71.8±40.5	90.7±27.6	−6.0 to 43.9
MH	76.1±23.1	77.2±17.3	82.1±13.6	73.3±19.2	−20.8 to 3.1	81.6±17.7	84.6±12.4	79.4±20.8	−18.0 to 7.6	78.7±18.1	74.5±21.6*	81.8±14.9*	−6.1 to 20.7	79.0±17.8	81.2±11.9	77.3±21.2	−17.3 to 6.5
GDS-15	n/a	3.0±2.1	2.5±1.7	3.4±2.3	−0.6 to 2.4	4.2±2.7	3.1±2.1	5.0±2.8	−0.3 to 3.6	3.3±2.0	3.2±1.2	3.4±2.5	−1.4 to 1.7	3.4±2.4	3.0±1.5	3.7±2.9	−1.4 to 2.5

Results are presented as mean±SD. GDS-15, Geriatric Depression Scale; SF-36, Short Form 36; IG, intervention group; CG, control group; CI, confidence interval; PCS, Physical Component Scale; MCS, Mental Component Scale; PF, Physical Functioning; RP, Role Functioning-physical; BP, Bodily Pain; GH, General Health; VT, Vitality; SF, Social Functioning; RE, Role Functioning-emotional; MH, Mental Health.