Reduced cardiovascular fitness and ambulatory function in Black and White stroke survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that quantitative measures of cardiovascular fitness and ambulatory function differ in Black and White hemiparetic stroke survivors.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis.


METHODS
Outpatient academic medical center.


METHODS
Total of 118 hemiparetic stroke survivors.


METHODS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
No racial differences were seen in the degree of physical deconditioning in a selected population of community dwelling hemiparetic stroke survivors.
Hinson
Holly E
HE
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Patterson
Shawnna L
SL
Macko
Richard F
RF
Goldberg
Andrew P
AP
D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010291:Paresis / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D044465:White People