Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

INTRODUCTION: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an inflammatory marker that is a reliable predictor of cardiovascular events, and is associated with incidence of first and recurrent stroke. Physical activity may be an effective strategy to reduce hs-CRP levels and in turn contribute to lower risk of secondary events. Higher physical activity levels are associated with lower hs-CRP levels in the general population, but whether this relationship is present in stroke survivors is unknown. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference in hs-CRP levels between stroke survivors who engage in moderate-intensity physical activity compared to those who do not. METHODS: Data from 201 individuals with stroke from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2009-2010 were analyzed using weighted analysis (mean ± SD age 64.0 ± 13.9 years). Gender, age, race, and education were included as covariates with an exploratory interaction between diabetes and physical activity. Physical activity data was collected using a questionnaire, and hs-CRP levels via blood tests. A natural logarithm transformation was applied to hs-CRP levels. RESULTS: Eighty-one (46%) participants reported that they engaged in regular, moderate-intensity physical activity. All covariates were not associated with ln-CRP. There was an interaction between physical activity and diabetes status on the ln-CRP [estimated beta (SE), 95% CI: -0.61 (0.26), -1.14, -0.08]. After adjusting for gender, age, race, and education, a negative association between hs-CRP levels and physical activity was observed in individuals with diabetes [N=75, estimated beta (SE), 95% CI: -0.68 (0.23), -1.15, -0.20], but there was no association in those without [N=126, estimated beta (SE), 95% CI: 0.08 (0.20), -0.35, 0.51]. CONCLUSION: Engaging in moderate-intensity physical activity was related to lower hs-CRP levels in individuals with stroke who also presented with diabetes.