A Cardiorespiratory Fitness Test for Acute Illness: Validity, Reliability, and Clinical Utility of Functional Incremental Stepping-in-Place Test

Acutely hospitalized patients are at risk for hospital-acquired functional decline (HAD). This decline increases the likelihood of developing physical disability after discharge, particularly in those with older age, multimorbidity, pre-existing functional impairment and life support exposures (i.e. mechanical ventilation). Identifying patients at increased risk provides important prognostic data to inform planning strategies for both in-hospital and post-acute intervention. Common physiological consequences associated with HAD are diminished skeletal muscle function and cardiorespiratory fit…