Beschreibung:
<jats:sec><jats:title>Background:</jats:title><jats:p> In persons with MS (pwMS), a lower cardiopulmonary fitness has been associated with a higher risk for secondary disorders, decreased functional capacity, symptom worsening and reduced health-related quality of life. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objective:</jats:title><jats:p> To investigate the association between disease severity and cardiopulmonary fitness. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods:</jats:title><jats:p> Data from cardiopulmonary exercise tests, previously conducted in three different countries, were pooled. The association between disease severity (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)) and cardiopulmonary fitness (peak oxygen uptake (VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>peak)) was adjusted for age, sex and the country of origin. </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results:</jats:title><jats:p> The combined sample comprised 116 ambulant pwMS having a mean (± SD) EDSS score of 2.7 ± 1.3. There was a significant correlation ( r = -0.418, p < .01) between VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>peak and EDSS. A multiple regression model (R<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> = 0.520, p < .01) was constructed to describe VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>peak (mL∙kg<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>∙min<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup>); VO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>peak = 36.622 − 5.433 (Sex (1=men)) – 0.124 (Age) − 2.082 (EDSS) + 2.737 (Belgium) + 8.674 (Denmark). </jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title><jats:p> There was a significant association between disease severity and cardiopulmonary fitness. The close relation between cardiopulmonary fitness and chronic conditions associated with physical inactivity, suggest a progressive increase in risk of secondary health conditions in pwMS </jats:p></jats:sec>