Life After STroke - the LAST Study

The LAST study is a Norwegian multi site randomised controlled trial that intends to assess the effect of a long term follow up program after stroke. The program consists of a coordinating physiotherapist who will encourage and motivate included patients to perform at least 60 minutes of intensive motor training every week and 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 18 months after inclusion. The primary hypothesis is that patients receiving a long term follow up program after stroke will have better motor function at end of follow up than patients receiving standard care. A total of 390 home dwelling stroke patients living in the municipality of Trondheim, Asker and Bærum will be included at the out-patient clinic at St. Olavs Hospital or Bærum Hospital three months after their stroke. Included patients will be randomised to an intervention group receiving the long term follow up program or to a control group receiving standard care. Motor function, mental health and physical functioning in daily life will be assessed at inclusion and 18 months later. The LAST study is funded by the Norwegian Research Council, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the Central Norway Regional Health Authority and will conclude at the end of 2015.

Supplement to the Life After Stroke - the LAST study ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01467206

Changes in the planned statistical analysis, November 9, 2015 The original plan for statistical analysis was published in; Askim T, Langhammer B, Ihle-Hansen H, Magnussen J, Engstad T, Indredavik B. A Long-Term Follow-Up Programme for Maintenance of Motor Function after Stroke: Protocol of the life after Stroke-The LAST Study. Stroke Res Treat. 2012;2012:392101. doi: 10.1155/2012/392101. Epub 2012 Nov 22.

Original plan for statistical analysis Reporting will follow the CONSORT statement for parallel group randomized trials \[40\]. Descriptive statistics will be performed in order to present the population and the characteristic of the two groups. All analyses will be analysed as intention-to-treat analysis according to the CONSORT instructions. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used to study differences between groups according to the primary endpoint, motor assessment scale at 18 months after inclusion. The ANCOVA model will include stroke severity, age, pre stroke disability, treatment group, and motor function at baseline as covariates. Mann-Whitney U test will be used for secondary data not being normal distributed. In all analyses we will control for potential confounding factors, investigate effect modifications, and present both unadjusted and adjusted effects with 95% confidence intervals.

Subanalysis will be performed according to the stratification variables (stroke severity, age above 80 and recruitment site) to explore trends within subgroups of patients.

Revised plan for statistical analysis Reporting will follow the CONSORT statement for parallel group randomized trials \[40\]. Descriptive statistics will be performed in order to present the population and the characteristic of the two groups. All analyses will be analysed as intention-to-treat analysis according to the CONSORT instructions. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used to study differences between groups according to the primary endpoint, motor assessment scale at 18 months after inclusion. The ANCOVA model will include stroke severity, age, pre stroke disability, treatment group, and motor function at baseline as covariates. Similar ANCOVA analyses will be used for the relevant secondary endpoints. Mann-Whitney U test will be used for secondary data not being normal distributed.

Subanalysis will be performed according to the stratification variables (stroke severity, age above 80 and recruitment site), gender, and cognitive status (Mini Mental State below 25), to explore trends within subgroups of patients.

Missing values will be handled using single imputation (typically for items on instrument scales), or by multiple imputation, as appropriate.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of stroke according to WHO's definition of stroke
* Living in the city of Trondheim or the municipalities of Asker or Bærum
* Included 2.5 - 4 months after stroke
* Modified Rankin Scale 0 - 4
* Living at home
* Mini Mental State Examination \> 20 or \> 16 if aphasia
* Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Are already included in the study
* Are included in other experimental studies
* Unstable coronary function
* Uncompensated heartfailure
* Other diseases that make it difficult to complete the intervention