A 10-year follow-up of key gas exchange exercise parameters in a general population: results of the Study of Health in Pomerania

Abstract

BackgroundCardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a frequently used method for the evaluation of the cardiorespiratory system. The prognostic relevance of the measured parameters is commonly known. Longitudinal data on cardiorespiratory fitness in a large sample of well characterised healthy volunteers are rare in literature.MethodsCPET data of 615 healthy individuals who voluntarily took part in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) at three times were analysed. The median observation time was 10.5 years. The age range was 25 to 85 years.ResultsOver the observed timeframe and with rising age a decline in maximum power, oxygen uptake and oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold was detectable. This decline was aggravated with rising age. For the VÉ/VCO2 slope an increase in individuals older than 50 years was measured only.ConclusionThe present study affirms the decrease in aerobic capacity with increasing age in a selected, well characterised, healthy study sample, that seems to be less pronounced in women.

Associação entre potência aeróbia máxima, força muscular isométrica e capacidade funcional em idosas

“…Entre os 60-65 anos, o VO2 max pode corresponder a aproximadamente 60% dos valores médios exibidos aos 25 anos de idade, o que seria equivalente a cerca de 27 ml/kg/min para homens e 24 ml/kg/min para mulheres (BETIK;HEPPLE, 2008). Tem sido demonstrada uma correlação inversa da idade com a aptidão aeróbia (ZEIHER et al, 2019;STUBBE et al, 2021).…”