The steep ramp test (ρ=0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.92) and FitMáx questionnaire (ρ=0.78; 95% CI 0.65-0.87) strongly correlated with CPET-measured VO2peak in clinical rehabilitation patients.
Cross-Sectional (n=69)
Do field exercise tests and patient-reported questionnaires accurately estimate cardiorespiratory fitness compared to cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients starting clinical rehabilitation?
The steep ramp test and FitMáx questionnaire are valid alternatives to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness when CPET is not feasible in clinical rehabilitation.
Effect estimate: ρ=0.87 (95% CI 0.78-0.92)
Objectives: To evaluate criterion and construct validity of field exercise tests and patient-reported questionnaires compared with cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in clinical rehabilitation. Design: Participants were included at the start of a cardiopulmonary or oncologic rehabilitation program. All patients performed a CPET, steep ramp test (SRT), and 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) and completed the Duke activity status index (DASI), veterans-specific activity questionnaire (VSAQ), and FitMáx© questionnaire (FitMáx). Work rate at peak exercise at the SRT (SRT-WR peak ), distance walked at the 6-MWT (6-MWD), and oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO 2peak ) estimated by the questionnaires were compared with measured VO 2peak during CPET. Results: Sixty-nine patients (57% female) were included, with a median (IQR) age of 58 (46-66) years. Correlations of SRT-WR peak and 6-MWD with CPET-VO 2peak were ρ=0.87 (95%-CI 0.78-0.92) and ρ=0.40 (95%-CI 0.17-0.58), respectively. Correlations of DASI-VO 2peak , VSAQ-VO 2peak , and FitMáx-VO 2peak with CPET-VO 2peak were ρ=0.37 (95%-CI 0.13-0.56), ρ=0.51 (95%-CI 0.30-0.68), and ρ=0.78 (95%-CI 0.65-0.87), respectively. Conclusions: SRT-WR peak and FitMáx-VO 2peak strongly correlated with CPET-VO 2peak , whereas the 6-MWD, DASI-VO 2peak and VSAQ-VO 2peak showed a moderate correlation. Consequently, the SRT and FitMáx are considered the best alternative exercise test and questionnaire to estimate CRF when CPET is not feasible.
Meijer et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiopulmonary or oncologic rehabilitation (n=69). Steep ramp test (SRT) and FitMáx questionnaire vs. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was evaluated on Correlation with measured VO2peak during CPET (ρ=0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.92). The steep ramp test (ρ=0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.92) and FitMáx questionnaire (ρ=0.78; 95% CI 0.65-0.87) strongly correlated with CPET-measured VO2peak in clinical rehabilitation patients.