Abstract

Background: Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), as measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), is considered the gold standard for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, CPET is not always feasible in rehabilitation settings. The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is simple and widely used, yet its relationship with CPET-derived measures in patients with subacute cerebral infarction remains unclear. Methods: A total of 122 patients with subacute cerebral infarction underwent both the 6MWT and CPET. VO2peak, CPET-derived peak heart rate (CPET HRpeak), 6-min walk distance (6MWD), 6MWTpeak heart rate (6MWT HRpeak), and the ratio of 6MWT HRpeak to age-predicted maximal heart rate were assessed. Results: In multivariate linear regression analysis, 6MWD was independently associated with VO2peak (unstandardized coefficient B = 0.010, p < 0.001). Partial correlation analyses adjusting for age, sex, and β-blocker use showed that CPET HRpeak was positively correlated with 6MWD (ρ = 0.361, p < 0.001) and 6MWT HRpeak (ρ = 0.217, p = 0.018). The ratio of 6MWT HRpeak to age-predicted maximal heart rate did not mediate the association between 6MWD and VO2peak. Conclusions: In patients with subacute cerebral infarction, 6MWD was independently associated with VO2peak, while both 6MWD and 6MWT HRpeak were positively correlated with CPET HRpeak. These findings suggest that the 6MWT may help assess CRF when CPET is not available.

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