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 symptomlimited 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 Vo(2) peak, peak heart rate (HR), 6MWT and MI, and in regression analysis, Vo(2) peak and MI were significant independent predictors of baseline K-MBI. Follow-up K-MBI correlated significantly with Vo(2) peak, peak HR, peak rate pressure product, 6MWT, baseline K-MBI and MI, and in linear regression analysis, Vo(2) 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.