Prediction of maximum oxygen uptake through incremental exercise testing using ventilometry: a cross-sectional study

Fernando Policarpo Barbosa; Paulo Eugênio Silva; Andréa Carmen Guimarães; Carlos Soares Pernambuco; Estélio Henrique Dantas

doi:10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.07.002

Prediction of maximum oxygen uptake through incremental exercise testing using ventilometry: a cross-sectional study

Braz J Phys Ther. 2020 Jul-Aug;24(4):365-372. doi: 10.1016/j.bjpt.2019.07.002. Epub 2019 Jul 16.

Authors

Fernando Policarpo Barbosa¹, Paulo Eugênio Silva², Andréa Carmen Guimarães³, Carlos Soares Pernambuco⁴, Estélio Henrique Dantas⁵

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Human Movement Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: fernandopolicarpo65@gmail.com.
² Post-Graduate Program in Science and Technology in Health, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Human Movement Biosciences, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Department of Physical Education and Health Sciences, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), São João del Rei, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Doctor's Degree Program in Nursing and Biosciences - PPgEnfBio, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Master and Doctor's Degree Program in Health and Environment - PSA, Tiradentes University - UNIT, Aracaju, Brazil.
⁵ Doctor's Degree Program in Nursing and Biosciences - PPgEnfBio, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro - UNIRIO, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; College of Physical Education, Universidade Tiradentes, Aracajú, SE, Brazil.

Abstract

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is the main tool assessing cardiorespiratory fitness. However, cardiopulmonary exercise testing devices are expensive and often cannot be used.

Objective: The present study sought to develop cardiopulmonary exercise testing equations for estimating maximum oxygen uptake from ergometric testing combined with ventilometry.

Methods: 181 volunteers of both sexes were submitted to cardiopulmonary exercise testing on treadmill using an incremental protocol. Volunteers were randomized into two groups: regression group: composed of 68 women with age 24.7±6.0 years and 54 men aged 21.5±3.9 years; and a cross-validation group composed of 29 women with mean age of 23.8±4.7 years and 30 men with a mean age of 23.1±4.4 years. The estimating equations were developed using multiple stepwise linear regressions; comparison of means was done using a t test and reliability assessed by Cronbach's alpha.

Results: 8 independent variables exhibited a significant result for estimating VO_2max: minute ventilation (E) at second ventilatory threshold (VT-II): (E _VT-II); heart rate at VT-II (HR_VT-II); body mass (BM); body mass index (BMI); fat percentage (F%); age; sex; velocity at VT-II (Vel_VT-II); test time of VT-II (T_VT-II) and final test velocity (Vel_final). Two equations presented more accurate results; for active subjects: Equation₂ = 33.08 + 2.41*(Vel_final) - 0.32*(F%) + 0.40*(VE_VT-II) - 0.26*(BM) - 0.09*(HR_VT-II); for sedentary subjects: Equation₃ for = 54.65 + 1.37*(T_VT-II) + 8.24*(sex) - 1.26*(BMI) + 0.37*(VE_VT-II) - 0.12*(HR_VT-II).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the use of parameters collected during maximal ergometric test combined with ventilometry, improved the accuracy of equations for estimating maximum oxygen uptake.

Keywords: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Equation; Ergometry; Oxygen consumption; Rehabilitation; Ventilometer.

MeSH terms

Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Test / methods*
Female
Heart Rate / physiology*
Humans
Male
Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
Reproducibility of Results