Prevalence of 3 Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among US Adults With and Without History of Stroke

Abstract

Introduction: Engaging in healthy lifestyle behaviors decreases risk for cardiometabolic complications, which is of particular concern for stroke survivors whose history of stroke (HOS) increases cardiometabolic risk. Population-based estimates of healthy behaviors in adults with HOS are lacking but could be used to inform research, policy, and health care practice. The objective of this study was to calculate and compare population-based estimates of the prevalence of consuming 1 or more fruit and 1 or more vegetable daily, meeting weekly aerobic physical activity recommendations, having a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 kg/m², and the number of healthy behaviors among US adults with and without HOS.

Methods: We used data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Weighted and age-adjusted (to the 2000 US standard population) prevalence estimates and adjusted odds ratios (AORs, adjusted for demographic variables) were computed for study variables.

Results: Adults with HOS were less likely than adults without HOS to consume 1 or more fruit and 1 or more vegetable daily (AOR = 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-0.91), meet weekly aerobic physical activity recommendations (AOR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.67-0.78), and engage in 2 (AOR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79-0.94) or 3 (AOR = 0.73; 95% CI, 0.64-0.82) healthy behaviors. Adults with HOS were more likely to engage in 0 healthy behaviors (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.16-1.37). Having a BMI of less than 25 kg/m² and engaging in 1 healthy behavior were similar between groups.

Conclusion: Prevalence of individual and total number of healthy behaviors was lower in adults with HOS for several healthy behaviors. Future research, policy, and health care practice is needed to promote healthy behaviors in adults with HOS.

Figure

Crude and adjusted odds of individual and total number of healthy behaviors in adults with history of stroke (HOS), 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Adults without HOS was the reference group. Sex, age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, and annual household income were controlled for in the adjusted odds. Black squares represent crude values, and open circles represent adjusted values; horizontal bars represent 95% confidence intervals.