TUESDAY, Nov. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate to heavy physical activity such as hiking or swimming is associated with a lower risk of stroke in elderly men, according to a study in the Nov. 24 issue of Neurology.

Joshua Z. Willey, M.D., from Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues assessed the association between physical activity, as determined by intensity of exercise and energy expended, and ischemic stroke in 3,298 elderly individuals.

The researchers found that 40.5 percent of subjects were physically inactive, and 238 had an ischemic stroke during a median follow-up of 9.1 years. Compared with no physical activity, the risk of stroke was lower only in those who engaged in moderate to heavy physical activity such as hiking, tennis, swimming, bicycling, jogging or racquetball (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.65). This association was observed only in men (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.37), and not women (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.92).

"Moderate- to heavy-intensity physical activity, but not energy expended, is protective against risk of ischemic stroke independent of other stroke risk factors in men in our cohort," Willey and colleagues conclude.

Several authors reported financial or consulting relationships with, or giving expert testimony for, pharmaceutical and device companies.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)