Grant: Operating Grant

Stroke is the leading cause of neurological disability in Canada; at age 55 there is a lifetime risk of stroke for 1 in 5 in women and 1 in 6 for men. Stroke survivors have double the chance of a heart-related death compared to age-matched populations and one-third of stroke survivors will go on to have another stroke. Up to 80% of people with stroke also have diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Exercise is one modality that has potential to reduce cardiovascular and stroke risk, as well as improve functional abilities. However, no studies have determined whether exercise can actually improve function of the heart (and therefore reduce risk of cardiac and stroke events) in the stroke population. This will be the first study in the stroke population to determine whether an aerobic exercise program can reduce the risk of heart disease and another stroke. Sixty participants living with stroke will be recruited and randomized to a 6 month aerobic exercise or control group (stretching and weight-bearing group). Subjects will be measured at the beginning and end of the program, as well as 2 months after the program has ended. We will measure resting blood pressure, in addition to other indices of cardiac function (e.g., glucose control, lipid levels, arterial stiffness which measures the thickening of the arteries and left atrial function). Stroke is a common condition in older adults and these individuals have known heart problems and severely compromised fitness. Establishing whether aerobic exercise can reduce cardiovascular risk (and by how much) will be an important step towards determining the cost-benefits of aerobic exercise in stroke.