Title: Feasibility of cardiorespiratory fitness testing in primary care settings
Supervisor: Dr. Robert Boushel
Committee members: Dr. Michael Koehle, Dr. Jasmin Ma
Abstract: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) testing in primary care settings offers healthcare practitioners a feasible tool to stratify chronic disease risk in patients, specifically through measurements of exercise capacity, as well as physiological responses to exercise. Despite its clinical significance, CRF assessments are still often excluded from routine health exams. This gap in care can be addressed by exploring the feasibility of integrating CRF testing in primary care settings. The proposed study will examine electronic medical records from an interdisciplinary healthcare centre that has established CRF testing as a routine preventative health service. Retrospective data from this real-world integration of CRF testing will inform on its acceptability, implementation, practicality, and adaptation into primary care settings. Further, the measurement of heart rate and blood pressure responses to exercise during CRF testing will be explored. Findings from this study should provide insight on the real-world integration of CRF testing into primary care settings and aims to explore the potential impact that addressing CRF can have on patient health, and the healthcare system as a whole.