Reduced cardiovascular fitness and ambulatory function in Black and White stroke survivors.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that quantitative measures of cardiovascular fitness and ambulatory function differ in Black and White hemiparetic stroke survivors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Outpatient academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Total of 118 hemiparetic stroke survivors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cardiovascular fitness was measured as VO2 peak and ambulatory function using the six-minute walk distance and 30-foot walking velocity in medically screened, community-dwelling stroke survivors. RESULTS: In 118 subjects (56% Black and 44% White), no differences were seen in 1) VO2 peak between Black or White men (15.0+/-4.3 vs. 15.1+/-3.9 mL/kg/minute) or women (11.5+/-2.7 vs. 12.3+/-3.7 mL/kg/minute); 2) six-minute walk distance between Black or White men (223+/-112 m vs 226+/-132 m) or women (198+/-100 vs 157+/-93 m); or 3) 30-foot walking velocity between Black or White men (0.60+/-0.27 m/second vs 0.61+/-0.31 m/ second) or women (0.50+/-0.21 m/second vs 0.41+/-0.23 m/second). CONCLUSION: No racial differences were seen in the degree of physical deconditioning in a selected population of community dwelling hemiparetic stroke survivors.