Cardiovascular fitness as a predictor of functional recovery in subacute stroke patients

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between baseline cardiovascular fitness and functional status, and whether baseline cardiovascular fitness is of predictive value in terms of functional recovery after rehabilitation in subacute stroke patients. Method: This study was a descriptive, observational cohort study. Fifty-five subacute stroke patients (37 males and 18 females; average age, 62.2 years) were enrolled for this study, and all subjects underwent symptom-limited low-velocity graded treadmill testing. Baseline assessments included cardiovascular fitness, 6-min walk test (6MWT), Korean-Modified Barthel Index (K-MBI) and Motricity Index (MI). Four weeks after rehabilitation, K-MBI was measured repeatedly. Results: Mean peak oxygen consumption (Vo2 peak) was 19.7 ± 6.7 mL/kg/min. Baseline K-MBI correlated significantly with Vo2 peak, peak heart rate (HR), 6MWT and MI, and in regression analysis, Vo2 peak and MI were significant independent predictors of baseline K-MBI. Follow-up K-MBI correlated significantly with Vo2 peak, peak HR, peak rate pressure product, 6MWT, baseline K-MBI and MI, and in linear regression analysis, Vo2 peak and baseline K-MBI were significant independent predictors of follow-up K-MBI. Conclusion: These results indicate that baseline cardiovascular fitness correlates significantly with the baseline functional status, in addition to being an important prognostic factor regarding the functional recovery of subacute stroke patients. Implications for RehabilitationReduced cardiovascular fitness is a well-studied physical impairment in stroke patients.Baseline cardiovascular fitness correlates significantly with the baseline functional status, in addition to being an important prognostic factor regarding the functional recovery of subacute stroke patients.Early intensive aerobic exercise training could be considered in subacute stroke patients not only to enhance their cardiovascular fitness but also to maximize their functional recovery.