Assessment of V̇o and Exercise Capacity After Stroke: A Validity Study of the Human Activity Profile Questionnaire.

Objective: To investigate the concurrent validity of the Human Activity Profile (HAP) in individuals after stroke to provide the peak oxygen uptake (V̇o) and the construct validity of the HAP to assess exercise capacity, and to provide equations based on the HAP outcomes to estimate the distance covered in the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University laboratory.

Participants: Individuals (N=57) aged 54±11 years who have experienced stroke.

Intervention: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Agreement between the V̇o provided by the HAP (lifestyle energy consumption [LEC] outcome, in mL/kg1/min) and the criterion standard measure of the V̇o (mL/kg/min), obtained through the symptom-limited Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test (CPET). Correlation between the HAP outcomes (LEC, maximum activity score [MAS], and adjusted activity score [AAS]) and the construct measure: the distance covered (in meters) in the ISWT. An equation to estimate the distance covered in the ISWT was determined.

Results: High magnitude agreement was found between the V̇o, in mL/kg/min, obtained by the symptom-limited CPET and the value of V̇o, in mL/kg/min, provided by the HAP (LEC) (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.75; P<.001). Low to moderate magnitude correlations were found between the distance covered in the ISWT and the HAP (LEC/MAS/AAS) (0.34≤ρ≤0.58). The equation to estimate the distance covered in the ISWT explained 31% of the variability of the ISWT (ISWT, -361.91+(9.646xAAS)).

Conclusion: The HAP questionnaire is a clinically applicable way to provide a valid value of V̇o (in mL/kg/min) and to assess the exercise capacity of individuals after stroke. Furthermore, an equation to estimate the distance covered in the submaximal field exercise test (ISWT) based on the result of the AAS (in points) was provided.