Validation of Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope in Patients With Stroke

Background: Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease which leads to ischemic damage of brain tissue and subsequent neurologic impairment. Aerobic capacity has become an effective prognosis for overall and cardiovascular mortality, but current protocols using in cardiopulmonary test (CPET) are not feasible for the hemiplegics due to balance or coordination deficit. The peak oxygen uptake should be underestimated for survival prediction. The calculation of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is independent of incremental exercise protocol, and patient effort, and is, therefore, suitable for patients who are not able or willing to attain maximal exercise values, just like stroke population. Study Purpose: This project will enroll stroke patients to evaluate their aerobic capacity by CPET. Compared retrospectively with previous data from heart failure patients and healthy subjects, the investigators may know the aerobic capacity of stroke patients is underestimated or not. By collecting other parameters from exercise test (cardiac output and local tissue perfusion and oxygenation), the investigators could investigate the exercise intolerance of stroke patients is contributed from neurological origin mainly or several factors synergically.