Exercise stress testing after stroke or transient ischemic attack: a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To provide insight into exercise stress testing after stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in terms of feasibility, safety, and protocols used.

Data sources: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies published from inception to March 2014, and reference lists were hand searched.

Study selection: To be included in the review, the articles needed to include participants diagnosed with stroke or TIA and have any form of test to assess exercise capacity.

Data extraction: The scoping review methodology does not include critical appraisal of the literature but was chosen to reflect all aspects of exercise stress testing after stroke or TIA. Two reviewers performed screening for eligible studies independently, and 1 reviewer extracted the data.

Data synthesis: We found a total of 112 studies involving 5008 participants describing symptom-limited (n=103), submaximal (n=9), and field (n=6) exercise stress test protocols. Some of the studies reported on data from >1 protocol. Metabolic analysis was included in 87% of the studies involving symptom-limited tests, 40% of submaximal studies, and 29% of field tests. Monitoring of blood pressure, perceived exertion, and electrocardiographic responses was done in 54%, 42%, and 95% of all studies, respectively. A mere 10% of all studies reported on electrocardiographic abnormalities detected during testing. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Symptom-limited exercise stress testing appears to be safe in patients with stroke or TIA and provides a more valid measure of exercise capacity than submaximal and field tests. The level of disability may compromise feasibility, and test modality should be chosen carefully to optimize test results.

Keywords: Exercise test; Ischemic attack, transient; Rehabilitation; Stroke.