Discrepancy between cardiac and physical functional reserves in stroke

Djordje G. Jakovljevic*, Sarah A. Moore, Lip Bun Tan, Lynn Rochester, Gary A. Ford, Michael I. Trenell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and Purpose-Understanding the physiological limitations to exercise after stroke will assist the development of targeted therapies to improve everyday function. This study defines (1) whether exercise capacity is limited by the cardiovascular system (oxygen supply) or skeletal muscles (oxygen utilization); and (2) cardiac function and pumping capability in people with stroke. Methods-Twenty-eight male participants with mild ischemic stroke (70±6 years of age, 18±20 months poststroke) and 25 male, age-matched healthy control subjects performed a graded cardiopulmonary exercise test with gas exchange and noninvasive hemodynamic measurements. Maximal oxygen extraction was calculated as the ratio between peak oxygen consumption and peak cardiac output. Cardiac function and pumping capability were assessed by peak exercise cardiac power output (expressed in watts) and cardiac output. Results-Peak oxygen consumption (18.4±4.6 versus 26.8±5.5 mL/kg/min, P<0.01) and arterial-venous O2 difference (9.3±2.5 versus 12.6±1.9 mlO2/100 mL of blood, P<0.01) were both reduced in stroke participants compared with healthy control subjects. In contrast, peak exercise cardiac power output (4.79±0.79 versus 4.51±0.96 W, P=0.49), cardiac output (16.4±3.1 versus 17.1±2.5 L/min, P=0.41), and the pressure-generating capacity of the heart (127±11 versus 125±14 mm Hg, P=0.97) were similar between stroke participants and healthy control subjects. Conclusions-The ability of skeletal muscles to extract oxygen is diminished after stroke. However, cardiac function and pumping capability are maintained. Appropriate therapies targeting muscle oxygen uptake such as exercise rehabilitation may improve exercise capacity after stroke.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1422-1425
Number of pages4
JournalStroke
Volume43
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cardiac function
  • Cardiac power
  • Exercise performance
  • Oxygen consumption

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