Lau, Herman Mun CheungHerman Mun CheungLauLee, E. W.-C.Wong, C. N.-C.Ng, G. Y.-F.Jones, A. Y.-M.Hui, D. S.-C.2021-12-012021-12-012005https://repository.sfu.edu.hk/handle/sfu/1998Objective To investigate the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among SARS survivors. Design A cohort study. Setting An outpatient physiotherapy department in a major hospital in Hong Kong. Participants SARS patients (N=171) discharged from the hospital. Their mean age was 37.36±12.65 years, and the average number of days of hospitalization was 21.79±9.93 days. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Subjects’ cardiorespiratory (6-minute walk test [6MWT], Chester step test for predicting maximal oxygen uptake [V̇o₂max]), musculoskeletal (proximal/distal muscle strength and endurance test), and HRQOL status (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) were measured and compared with the normative data matched for age and sex. Results Seventy-eight (45.61%) patients continued to require prednisolone (<0.5mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for residual lung opacities when data were collected. The values of 6MWT distance, predicted V̇o₂max, proximal and distal muscle strength, and the scores from all SF-36 domains, particularly perceived role-physical, were significantly lower than the normative data (P<.05). Conclusions SARS survivors had deficits in cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal performance, and their HRQOL appeared to be significantly impaired.enjournal article10.1016/j.apmr.2004.09.025