Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies
| Study ID | n | Study design | Participant characteristics BMI (kg/m2) mean (SD) |
Age in years Mean (SD or range) |
Number (%) male |
Type of stroke |
Stroke latency |
Measurement tool |
Body part |
Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billinger et al 2009 | 12 | Cross- sectional |
Able to walk independently Excluded people with diabetes BMI 29.7 (5.2) |
60.6 (14.5) | 5 (42%) | 9 (75%) ischemic 3 (25%) hemorrhagic |
5.8 (2.4) years |
DEXA | Legs and arms |
No significant difference in fat mass between sides |
| Carin-Levy et al 2006 | 17 | Longitudinal | Baseline median FIM score = 107 BMI 24.6 (7.8) |
66 (11.5) | 10 (59%) |
8 (47%) ischemic 5 (29%) hemorrhagic 4 (33%) normal CT |
3 weeks and 6 months |
DEXA | Whole body |
Significant increase in whole body fat mass over time. |
| Celik et al 2008 | 35 | Cross- sectional |
71% of participants Brunnstrom motor stage of 3 or less (ie did not have ability to perform isolated movements) BMI not reported |
62.7 (9.5) | 18 (51%) |
Not reported |
1.3 (1.9) years |
DEXA | Legs | No significant difference in fat mass between sides |
| Iversen et al 1989 | 15 | Cross- sectional |
Not reported BMI not reported |
62.5 (39– 78) |
8 (53%) | Not reported |
Approx 6 months |
DEXA | Arms and legs |
Significantly more fat mass in the paretic vs non- paretic limbs |
| Jørgensen and Jakobsen 2001 | 28 | Longitudinal | Unable to walk at baseline BMI not reported |
75.0 (7.0) | 18 (64%) |
Not reported |
1 week, 2 months, 7 months and 1 year |
DEXA | Legs | Significant increase in fat mass only in the paretic limb of people still unable to walk at 2 months |
| Lazoura et al 2010 | 58 | Longitudinal | Unable to walk at 3 months BMI not reported |
64.1 (SD not reported) |
36 (62%) |
Not reported |
3, 6 and 12 months |
DEXA | Legs | Significant increase in fat mass in the paretic, and to lesser extent non- paretic leg |
| Okabe et al 2004 | 24 | Cross- sectional |
Not reported BMI not reported |
68.9 (1.8) | 14 (58%) |
Not reported |
6.2 (1.1) months |
DEXA | Legs | Significantly less fat in the paretic vs non-paretic legs |
| Pang et al 2005 / Pang and Eng 2005* | 58/ 56 |
Cross- sectional |
Able to walk independently BMI not reported |
65.5 (8.8) | 35 (60%)/3 4(61%) |
Not reported |
5.6 (5.1) years / 4.1 (4) years |
DEXA | Legs/A rms |
Significantly more fat mass in the paretic vs non- paretic legs and arms |
| Ramnemark et al 1999 | 19 | Longitudinal | Less than antigravity power in either arm or leg on paretic side BMI males 24.9 (3.3) BMI females 23.7 (3.8) |
74.9 (8.2) | 12 (63%) |
16 (84%) infarct 3 (16%) hemorrhagic |
1 month, 4 months, 7 months and 12 months |
DEXA | Whole body | No significant change in fat mass over time |
| Ryan et al 2000 | 26 | Cross- sectional |
Able to walk independently |
66.0 (9.0) | 22 (85%) |
All infarct | 3.2 (4.7) years |
DEXA | Leg | Significantly more fat mass in the paretic vs non- paretic legs |
| Ryan et al 2002 | 60 | Cross- sectional |
Able to walk independently BMI 27.7 (4.3) |
65.0 (9.0) | 47 (78%) |
All infarct | 3.0 (3.7) years |
DEXA and CT | Arm, leg and thigh (DEXA) Mid thigh (CT) |
No significant difference in fat mass between sides. Trend toward greater mid-thigh low density tissue in paretic leg. |
DEXA = dual energy x-ray absorpiometry, FIM = functional independence measure, BMI = body mass index
*
these 2 papers reported the results of one trial with the same participants.