Physical activity and depression in Indonesian adults with stroke: A nationwide survey

PURPOSE: To examine the associations between physical activity and depressive symptoms in adults with stroke.

DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study involving the data of 3234 adults with stroke obtained from the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riset Kesehatan Dasar, RISKESDAS).

METHODS: Physical activity level in metabolic equivalents-minutes per week were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior recommendations. Depression was assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the predictive role of physical activity for depression after adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS: Adults with stroke who met the WHO recommendation of physical activity were independently and significantly associated with lower odds of depression after adjustment for confounders (adjusted OR = 0.757, p = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS: Performing physical activity according to the WHO recommendation is associated with a lower likelihood of depression among Indonesian adults with stroke.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinicians should be informed by the findings of this study and prescribe exercise interventions or plan physical activities to optimize recovery and prevent poststroke depression.