Determinants of cardiopulmonary fitness in individuals poststroke: based on quantile regression analysis

BACKGROUND: To understand the factors influencing cardiorespiratory fitness after stroke and the differential effects at varying levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. METHODS: This prospective study analyzed the factors affecting cardiorespiratory fitness via quantile regression with weighted least squares regression. RESULTS: The study included 80 subjects. Both univariate and multivariate quantile regression analyses indicated that higher Fugl-Meyer assessment scores were associated with better cardiorespiratory fitness. The impact of the Fugl-Meyer assessment score on peak oxygen uptake increased with increasing quantiles. CONCLUSION: The FMA score was positively associated with peak oxygen uptake, and quantile regression suggested that this association may vary across the peak oxygen uptake distribution. These findings improve the understanding of the relationship between motor function and cardiorespiratory fitness after stroke and may inform future studies on stratified rehabilitation approaches after further validation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Beijing Bo' a.i. Hospital: MR-11-23-043311 (2023-11-15). Retrospectively registered.