Key result
Cardiorespiratory fitness testing in the early subacute phase after stroke was safe, with 1 minor adverse event, but only 41 of 62 participants were able to complete the submaximal fitness test.
Why the study?
Evidence is limited regarding the safety and feasibility of cardiorespiratory fitness testing for people with stroke across varying impairment levels in the early subacute phase of recovery.
Is cardiorespiratory fitness testing safe and feasible in patients with ischemic stroke in the early subacute phase?
Cohort (n=65)
Yes
Is cardiorespiratory fitness testing safe and feasible in patients with ischemic stroke in the early subacute phase?
Early cardiorespiratory fitness testing after ischemic stroke is safe but feasible in only about two-thirds of patients, primarily those with milder impairments.
Early post-stroke fitness testing appears safe yet feasible in only two-thirds of patients; leaves open optimal selection criteria and protocols.
BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness testing is recommended as part of a pre-exercise evaluation to aid the programming of safe, tailored cardiorespiratory fitness training after stroke. But there is limited evidence for its safety and feasibility in people with stroke with varying impairment levels in the early subacute phase of stroke recovery. OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and feasibility of cardiorespiratory fitness testing in the early subacute phase after stroke. DESIGN: A sub-study of a larger single service, multi-site, prospective cohort feasibility study (Cardiac Rehabilitation in Stroke Survivors to Improve Survivorship [CRiSSIS]). SETTING: Private subacute inpatient rehabilitation facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive admissions of people with ischemic stroke admitted to subacute rehabilitation facilities. INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME(S): Safety was determined by the occurrence of adverse or serious adverse events. Feasibility was determined by assessing the (1) number of participants recruited and (2) number of participants able to complete the fitness test. RESULTS: Between April 2018 and December 2019, a total of 165 people with stroke were screened to participate; 109 were eligible and 65 were recruited. Of the 62 who completed testing, 41 participants were able to complete a submaximal fitness test at a median of 12 days post-stroke. One minor adverse event was recorded. Of the 21 participants unable to complete the fitness test; 4 declined to complete the test, 9 were unable to commence the test, and 8 were unable to complete the first stage of the protocol due to stroke-related impairments. Participants with mild stroke, greater motor and cognitive function, and fewer depressive symptoms were more likely to be able to complete the cardiorespiratory fitness test. CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory fitness testing was safe for most people with mild-to-moderately severe ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack in the early subacute phase, but only two-thirds of the participants could complete the test.
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Machado et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in Ischemic stroke in the early subacute phase (n=65). Cardiorespiratory fitness testing was evaluated on Safety (adverse events) and feasibility (recruitment and test completion rates). Cardiorespiratory fitness testing in the early subacute phase after stroke was safe, with 1 minor adverse event, but only 41 of 62 participants were able to complete the submaximal fitness test.
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