Table 1.
Demographic and stroke characteristics.
| Characteristic | All recruits N = 36 | Completed study n = 32 | p a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gender, female | 13 (36.1) | 12 (37.5) | 0.62 |
| Age, mean (SD) | 69.5 (11.7) | 68.9 (11.8) | 0.37 |
| Lived with others | 28 (77.8) | 25 (78.1) | 0.89 |
| Education | |||
| No formal education | 2 (5.6) | 2 (6.3) | 0.25 |
| Incomplete secondary | 7 (19.4) | 6 (18.8) | |
| Complete secondary | 4 (11.1) | 3 (9.4) | |
| Trade/apprentice | 7 (19.4) | 5 (15.6) | |
| Certificate/diploma | 9 (25.0) | 9 (28.1) | |
| University degree or higher | 7 (19.4) | 7 (21.9) | |
| Pre-stroke employment | |||
| Full or part time work | 14 (38.9) | 13 (40.6) | 0.83 |
| Home duties | 3 (8.3) | 3 (9.4) | |
| Student | 1 (2.8) | 1 (3.1) | |
| Retired | 18 (50.0) | 15 (46.9) | |
| Non-English speaking background | 7 (19.4) | 7 (21.9) | 0.30 |
| Previously walked no gait aid | 32 (88.9) | 29 (90.6) | 0.35 |
| Body mass index | 27.2 (5.4) | 27.6 (5.6) | 0.21 |
| Family history of diabetes | |||
| Yes | 3 (8.3) | 3 (9.4) | 0.33 |
| No | 18 (50.0) | 17 (53.1) | |
| Unknown | 9 (25.0) | 7 (21.9) | |
| Past medical history | |||
| Hypertension | 18 (50.0) | 15 (46.9) | 0.29 |
| High cholesterol | 12 (33.3) | 10 (31.3) | 0.45 |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 6 (16.7) | 4 (12.5) | 0.06 |
| Atrial fibrillation | 7 (19.4) | 6 (18.8) | 0.77 |
| Musculoskeletal | 15 (41.7) | 14 (43.8) | 0.47 |
| Number co-morbidities, mean (SD) | 4.1 (2.9) | 4.0 (2.7) | 0.24 |
| Smoking history | |||
| Current smoker | 12 (33.3) | 10 (31.3) | 0.57 |
| Never smoked | 13 (36.1) | 12 (37.5) | |
| Stopped in past 2 years | 2 (5.6) | 2 (6.3) | |
| Stopped > 2 years ago | 9 (25.0) | 9 (28.1) | |
| Stroke severity, NIHSS | |||
| Group median (IQR) | 11.5 (9.75, 16) | 12.5 (9.75, 16.5) | 0.26 |
| Mild | 8 (22.2) | 7 (21.9) | |
| Moderate | 20 (55.6) | 17 (53.1) | |
| Severe | 8 (22.2) | 8 (25.0) | |
| Stroke classification | |||
| TACI | 18 (50.0) | 18 (56.3) | 0.02a |
| PACI | 11 (30.6) | 10 (31.3) | |
| LACI | 3 (8.3) | 2 (6.3) | |
| Haemorrhage | 4 (11.1) | 2 (6.3) | |
Note. Data presented n (%) unless otherwise specified.
a
Independent sample T-test or Wilcoxon rank-sums dependent on distribution of continuous or ordinal data, Chi2 for nominal data.
NIHSS: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (mild < 8, moderate 8 to 16, severe > 16); TACI/PACI: total/partial anterior circulation infarct; LACI: lacunar circulation infarct.