Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Individuals Post-stroke: Reference Values and Determinants

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cardiorespiratory fitness is crucial for recovery and daily functioning in individuals post-stroke.
• Establishing population-specific reference values is essential for accurate assessment in clinical rehabilitation settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness (peak oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake at ventilatory threshold) in individuals post-stroke.
• To identify patient characteristics associated with cardiorespiratory fitness levels post-stroke.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study involving 405 individuals post-stroke undergoing cardiopulmonary exercise testing.
• Quantile regression analysis was used to construct reference equations for cardiorespiratory fitness, stratified by age and sex.
• Linear and multivariate regression analyses identified factors related to cardiorespiratory fitness.

Main Results:

• Reference equations for cardiorespiratory fitness (V˙O₂peak and V˙O₂-VT) were developed for the post-stroke population.
• Median V˙O₂peak was 17.8 mL/kg/min and median V˙O₂-VT was 9.7 mL/kg/min.
• Lower cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with older age, female sex, beta-blocker use, higher BMI, and reduced motor ability.

Conclusions:

• Population-specific reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness post-stroke are now available, aiding clinical assessment and personalized rehabilitation planning.
• Individuals with mobility limitations and those on beta-blockers are at higher risk for diminished cardiorespiratory fitness.
• These reference values can guide the implementation of targeted cardiorespiratory fitness training to improve outcomes for stroke survivors.