title: Impaired cardiorespiratory fitness after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess cardiorespiratory fitness in patients following an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and to explore this in fatigued and non-fatigued patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 28 patients, 6 months post aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, and 28 sex- and age-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cardiorespiratory responses to a progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer were obtained using indirect calorimetry. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) was significantly lower in patients (22.0 (standard deviation (SD) 6.2) ml/kg/min) than in controls (69% of controls, p < 0.001). All other cardiorespiratory fitness parameters were also lower, with peak levels ranging from 62% to 77% of matched controls. Mean V̇O2peak was 19.4 (SD 4.1) ml/kg/min in fatigued patients (63% of matched controls, p < 0.001) and 23.9 (SD 6.9) ml/kg/min in non-fatigued patients (74% of matched controls, p = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiorespiratory fitness is impaired after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage, both in fatigued and non-fatigued patients. This finding may have implications for treatment.
authors: Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands, w.harmsen@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Wouter J
authors: WJ
authors: Harmsen
authors: Gerard M
authors: GM
authors: Ribbers
authors: Bart
authors: B
authors: Zegers
authors: Emiel M
authors: EM
authors: Sneekes
authors: Majanka H
authors: MH
authors: Heijenbrok-Kal
authors: Ladbon
authors: L
authors: Khajeh
authors: Fop
authors: F
authors: van Kooten
authors: Sebastiaan J C M M
authors: SJ
authors: Neggers
authors: Rita J G
authors: RJ
authors: van den Berg-Emons
mesh_terms: D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*