Potential effects on cardiometabolic risk factors and body composition by short message service (SMS)-guided training after recent minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack : Post hoc analyses of the STROKEWALK randomised controlled trial

• Objectives: To evaluate effects of mobile phone text-messaging exercise instructions on body composition, cardiometabolic risk markers and self-reported health at 3 months after stroke.Design: Randomised controlled intervention study with per-protocol analyses.Setting: University Hospital in Sweden.Participants: Seventy-nine patients (mean (SD) age 64 (10) years, 37% female) ≥18 years with good motor function (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) and capable to perform 6 min walking test at hospital discharge were randomised to either intervention (n=40) or control group (n=39). Key exclusion criteria: Subarachnoid bleeding, uncontrolled hypertension, severe psychiatric problems or cognitive limitations.Interventions: The intervention group received beyond standard care, daily mobile phone instructional text messages to perform regular outdoor walking and functional leg exercises. The control group received standard care.Main outcome measures: Fat mass and fat-free mass were estimated by bioelectric impedance analysis. Cardiometabolic risk factors like blood lipids, glycated haemoglobin and blood glucose were analysed at baseline and after 3 months.Results: Both groups changed favourably in fat-free mass (1.83 kg, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.89; p=0.01, effect size (ES)=0.63 vs 1.22 kg, 95% CI 0.39 to 2.0; p=0.05, ES=0.54) and fat mass (-1.30 kg, 95% CI-2.45 to-0.14; p=0.029, ES=0.41 vs-0.76 kg, 95% CI-1.74 to 0.22; p=0.123, ES=0.28). Also, many cholesterol related biomarkers improved; for example, total cholesterol-0.65 mmol/L, 95% CI-1.10 to-0.2; p=0.06, ES: 0.5 vs-1.1 mmol/L, 95% CI-1.47 to-0.56; p>0.001, ES=0.8. However, there were no between-group differences. At 3 months, 94% and 86%, respectively, reported very good/fairly good health in the text messaging and control groups.Conclusions: No clear effect of 3 months daily mobile phone delivered training instructions was detected on body composition, cardiovascular biochemical risk factors or self-perceived health. Further research is needed to evaluate secondary prevention efforts in larger populations after recent stroke.Trial registration number: NCT02902367.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Allmänmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- General Practice (hsv//eng)

Keyword

neurology

rehabilitation medicine

rehabilitation medicine

stroke

stroke medicine

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)