Aerobic capacity in persons with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review
Creators: name: Thrue, Cecilie
name: Hvid, Lars G.
name: Gamborg, Mads
name: Dawes, Helen
name: Dalgas, Ulrik
name: Langeskov-Christensen, Martin
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
classificationCode: 59999
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 39999
subject: Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
classificationCode: 69999
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: To systematically review studies assessing (1) psychometric properties of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2max</sub>) test in PD, (2) VO<sub>2max</sub> levels in persons with PD (pwPD) compared to healthy controls (HCs), and (3) reported VO<sub>2max</sub> associations in PD. Six databases were searched. Descriptive data synthesis was used to summarize psychometric properties and reported VO<sub>2max</sub> associations. The VO<sub>2max</sub> means and test end-criteria were calculated using linear mixed models. Simple linear regression was used for associations. The review included 25 studies. Psychometric properties of the VO<sub>2max</sub> test, reported in one study, showed intraclass correlations of 0.90–0.94 for VO<sub>2max</sub>. Thirteen studies reported test end-criteria, with only mean respiratory exchange ratio (on medication) and percentage of predicted maximal heart rate (off medication) fulfilling standardized minimum values for the VO<sub>2max</sub> test. The VO<sub>2max</sub> was comparable between pwPD and HC as well as between different PD-medication states. Associations between VO<sub>2max</sub> and age, sex, and fatigue were reported. In mildly to moderately affected pwPD, limited evidence exists on the psychometric properties of the VO<sub>2max</sub> test and end-criteria were sparsely reported. Surprisingly, VO<sub>2max</sub> was comparable between pwPD and HC as well as between different PD-medication states, and only age, sex, and fatigue were associated with VO<sub>2max</sub>. Implications for rehabilitationIn mildly to moderately affected persons with PD (pwPD), only one study has examined psychometric properties of the VO<sub>2max</sub> test, reporting excellent test–retest reliability.A general lack of consistency on how to measure and report VO<sub>2max</sub> end-criteria was observed, but when reported, the end-criteria were most often not met.No difference was found in VO<sub>2max</sub> between mildly to moderately affected pwPD and HC, or between pwPD across different medication states.The identified negative association between VO<sub>2max</sub> and fatigue suggests aerobic exercise as a potential symptomatic treatment of fatigue when rehabilitation professionals are treating pwPD. In mildly to moderately affected persons with PD (pwPD), only one study has examined psychometric properties of the VO<sub>2max</sub> test, reporting excellent test–retest reliability. A general lack of consistency on how to measure and report VO<sub>2max</sub> end-criteria was observed, but when reported, the end-criteria were most often not met. No difference was found in VO<sub>2max</sub> between mildly to moderately affected pwPD and HC, or between pwPD across different medication states. The identified negative association between VO<sub>2max</sub> and fatigue suggests aerobic exercise as a potential symptomatic treatment of fatigue when rehabilitation professionals are treating pwPD.