VO2max prediction based on submaximal cardiorespiratory relationships and body composition in male runners and cyclists: a population study

Szczepan Wiecha; Przemysław Seweryn Kasiak; Piotr Szwed; Tomasz Kowalski; Igor Cieśliński; Marek Postuła; Andrzej Klusiewicz

doi:10.7554/eLife.86291

VO_2max prediction based on submaximal cardiorespiratory relationships and body composition in male runners and cyclists: a population study

Elife. 2023 May 10:12:e86291. doi: 10.7554/eLife.86291.

Authors

Szczepan Wiecha¹, Przemysław Seweryn Kasiak², Piotr Szwed³, Tomasz Kowalski⁴, Igor Cieśliński¹, Marek Postuła³, Andrzej Klusiewicz¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physical Education and Health in Biala Podlaska, Faculty in Biala Podlaska, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland.
² Students' Scientific Group of Lifestyle Medicine, 3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
³ Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Preclinical Research and Technology CEPT, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
⁴ Institute of Sport-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland.

Abstract

Background: Oxygen uptake (VO₂) is one of the most important measures of fitness and critical vital sign. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a valuable method of assessing fitness in sport and clinical settings. There is a lack of large studies on athletic populations to predict VO_2max using somatic or submaximal CPET variables. Thus, this study aimed to: (1) derive prediction models for maximal VO₂ (VO_2max) based on submaximal exercise variables at anaerobic threshold (AT) or respiratory compensation point (RCP) or only somatic and (2) internally validate provided equations.

Methods: Four thousand four hundred twenty-four male endurance athletes (EA) underwent maximal symptom-limited CPET on a treadmill (n=3330) or cycle ergometer (n=1094). The cohort was randomly divided between: variables selection (n_runners = 1998; n_cyclist = 656), model building (n_runners = 666; n_cyclist = 219), and validation (n_runners = 666; n_cyclist = 219). Random forest was used to select the most significant variables. Models were derived and internally validated with multiple linear regression.

Results: Runners were 36.24±8.45 years; BMI = 23.94 ± 2.43 kg·m^-2; VO_2max=53.81±6.67 mL·min^-1·kg^-1. Cyclists were 37.33±9.13 years; BMI = 24.34 ± 2.63 kg·m^-2; VO_2max=51.74±7.99 mL·min^-1·kg^-1. VO₂ at AT and RCP were the most contributing variables to exercise equations. Body mass and body fat had the highest impact on the somatic equation. Model performance for VO_2max based on variables at AT was R²=0.81, at RCP was R²=0.91, at AT and RCP was R²=0.91 and for somatic-only was R²=0.43.

Conclusions: Derived prediction models were highly accurate and fairly replicable. Formulae allow for precise estimation of VO_2max based on submaximal exercise performance or somatic variables. Presented models are applicable for sport and clinical settling. They are a valuable supplementary method for fitness practitioners to adjust individualised training recommendations.

Funding: No external funding was received for this work.

Keywords: VO2max; athletes; body composition; cardiopulmonary; human; medicine; prediction; threshold.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Body Composition
Exercise
Exercise Test* / methods
Heart Rate
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Oxygen Consumption*

Grants and funding

No external funding was received for this work.