背景及目的：本研究目的在比較慢性中風患者和性別、年齡配對之健康受試者在心肺適能的差異，並探討心肺適能的降低與下肢功能、六分鐘行走距離、身體活動及呼吸肌耐力等相關因子的相關性。方法：15名（10男5女）平均年齡60.1±11.3歲之慢性中輕度中風患者與15名無重要臨床診斷會影響本研究測試或目的之健康靜態生活者填寫基本資料和7日活動問卷，並接受六分鐘行走測試、最大自主換氣量測量及症狀限制最大運動測試；中風患者加測下肢功能。統計分析以獨立t檢定比較兩組之運動測試結果、身體活動、六分鐘行走距離和最大自主換氣量，以皮爾森或史丕曼相關係數分析中風病人最大攝氧量與下肢功能、身體活動、六分鐘行走距離、最大自主換氣量之聞的相關性。結果：中風組受試者之平均最大攝氧量約為對照組61%，六分鐘行走距離及行走速度顯著低於對照組(p<0.01)，約為對照組的52%，但氧氣換氣當量及二氧化碳換氣當量則較對照組高。最大攝氧量與下肢功能及六分鐘行走距離顯著相關(r=0.6-0.8)，與身體活動、最大自主換氣量均無顯著相關性。結論：慢性中輕度中風患者的心肺適能較同齡健康受試者低，下肢功能及行走能力是心肺適能降低的重要相關因素。臨床意義：慢性中風患者心肺適能的增強也應是訓練的重點之一，並可採用下肢功能或行走測試定期評估。

Background and Purpose: The purpose of our study was to investigate the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness between patients with mild to moderate chronic stroke and gender-age-matched sedentary healthy subjects and the correlation with the possible related factors, including daily physical activity, lower extremity function, distance walked in six-minute walking test (6MWT), and the respiratory muscle endurance. Methods: Fifteen subjects (10 males and 5 females, mean age 60.1±11.3 years) with first stroke greater than 6 months and 15 gender-age-matched healthy subjects were recruited. They underwent 6MWT, the respiratory muscle endurance measurement, the symptom limited maximal exercise test and filled in a 7-day recall physical activity questionnaire. In addition, the lower extremity function was evaluated in stroke patients. Independent t test was used to make group comparison, Pearson and Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to test if the correlations with cardiorespiratory fitness existed in stroke patients. Result: Stroke patients had significantly lowered peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2), distance walked in 6MWT and walking speed than the control subjects (p<0.01), about 61% in peak VO2 and 52% in 6MWT. Significantly higher values in ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide were noted in stroke patients, no differences found in respiratory muscle endurance and breathing reserve between groups. Peak VO2 significantly correlated with the lower extremity function and the distance walked in 6MWT (r=0.6-0.8). Conclusion: The reduced cardiorespiratory fitness in mild-to-moderate stroke patients was related to their decreased lower extremity function and walking ability. Clinical Relevance: Exercise training to enhance cardiorespiratory fitness was needed in chronic stroke patients. Periodic evaluation of lower extremity function and 6MWT was suggested.