Investigating the relationship between physical activity and depression level with stroke recurrences: An observational cross-sectional study

Background. The complex relationship between physical health and mental well-being, especially for those who have undergone a stroke, is increasingly acknowledged. It is crucial to include interventions that emphasize physical activity as a crucial element in successful stroke rehabilitation and preventing subsequent strokes. This research aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity and depression levels with stroke recurrences. Method. This cross-sectional investigation enrolled 60 patients aged between 30 and 85 years, all receiving outpatient stroke treatment in a hospital in Indonesia. Stroke recurrence was defined as experiencing a second stroke within three months after the initial stroke. Among the total participants, 12 had experienced recurrent strokes, while 48 had not. Data on physical activity and depression levels were gathered using the IPAQ short form and PHQ-9 instruments. Simple logistic regression was conducted to assess the association between physical activity and depression levels with stroke recurrence, adjusting for age and sex. Result. Patients with higher physical activity levels were less likely to experience recurrent strokes (OR = 0.534, 95% CI 0.201; 1.422), p = 0.027. In contrast, patients with higher depression levels were more likely to experience recurrent strokes (OR = 2.055, 95% CI 1.115; 3.787), p = 0.021. Conclusion. The study highlights low physical activity and high depression as influential factors in increasing stroke recurrence, underscoring the need to promote physical activity and mental health support in stroke rehabilitation.