Figure 2.

Estimated means and standard errors (bars) across follow-ups for patients with a baseline physical fitness level lower and higher than the sample median (VO₂max = 21.7 mL/min/kg). Only significant interaction effects of physical fitness level and follow-up are illustrated. The somatization subscale of the “Symptoms Checklist” (SCL-90) is scored from 1 to 4 with higher scores indicating more mental distress. The physical role and general health subscales of the “Short Form Health Survey 36” (SF-36) are scored from 1 to 100 with higher scores reflecting better health-related quality of life.