Self-reported life-space mobility in the first year after ischemic stroke: longitudinal findings from the MOBITEC-Stroke project

J Neurol. 2023 Aug;270(8):3992-4003. doi: 10.1007/s00415-023-11748-5. Epub 2023 May 4.

Abstract

Background: Life-space mobility is defined as the size of the area in which a person moves about within a specified period of time. Our study aimed to characterize life-space mobility, identify factors associated with its course, and detect typical trajectories in the first year after ischemic stroke.

Methods: MOBITEC-Stroke (ISRCTN85999967; 13/08/2020) was a cohort study with assessments performed 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after stroke onset. We applied linear mixed effects models (LMMs) with life-space mobility (Life-Space Assessment; LSA) as outcome and time point, sex, age, pre-stroke mobility limitation, stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale, comorbidities, neighborhood characteristics, availability of a car, Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), and lower extremity physical function (log-transformed timed up-and-go; TUG) as independent variables. We elucidated typical trajectories of LSA by latent class growth analysis (LCGA) and performed univariate tests for differences between classes.

Results: In 59 participants (mean age 71.6, SD 10.0 years; 33.9% women), mean LSA at 3 months was 69.3 (SD 27.3). LMMs revealed evidence (p ≤ 0.05) that pre-stroke mobility limitation, NIHSS, comorbidities, and FES-I were independently associated with the course of LSA; there was no evidence for a significant effect of time point. LCGA revealed three classes: "low stable", "average stable", and "high increasing". Classes differed with regard to LSA starting value, pre-stroke mobility limitation, FES-I, and log-transformed TUG time.

Conclusion: Routinely assessing LSA starting value, pre-stroke mobility limitation, and FES-I may help clinicians identify patients at increased risk of failure to improve LSA.

Keywords: Cohort studies; Mobility limitation; Physical functional performance; Social participation; Spatial behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke*
  • Male
  • Mobility Limitation
  • Self Report
  • Stroke* / epidemiology