Impaired cardiorespiratory fitness after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

To assess cardiorespiratory fitness in patients following an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and to explore this in fatigued and non-fatigued patients.

Cross-sectional case-control study.

A total of 28 patients, 6 months post aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, and 28 sex- and age-matched controls.

Cardiorespiratory responses to a progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer were obtained using indirect calorimetry. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale.

Mean peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) was significantly lower in patients (22.0 (standard deviation (SD) 6.2) ml/kg/min) than in controls (69% of controls, p < 0.001). All other cardiorespiratory fitness parameters were also lower, with peak levels ranging from 62% to 77% of matched controls. Mean V̇O2peak was 19.4 (SD 4.1) ml/kg/min in fatigued patients (63% of matched controls, p < 0.001) and 23.9 (SD 6.9) ml/kg/min in non-fatigued patients (74% of matched controls, p = 0.002).

Cardiorespiratory fitness is impaired after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, both in fatigued and non-fatigued patients. This finding may have implications for treatment.