Maximum oxygen uptake capacity of smokers of different age groups.

Abstract

Eighty-four healthy asymptomatic sedentary smokers and 92 healthy sedentary non-smokers of the age range 20-59 years were investigated for their maximum oxygen uptake capacity ( V02 max) and related cardiorespiratory parameters at the level of maximal exercise by bicycle ergometry. The subjects were blocked into four age decades of 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years to show the effect of smoking on Voz max of smokes of different age groups. The physical characteristics of smokers and non-smokers of comparable age groups did not show any significant difference. The smokers of each subsequent age group consumed 5.9±4.1, 6.3±5.7, 12.7±7.1, and 11.5±9.1 pack years of cigarettes, respectively (pack year = number of packets of cigarettes per day x number of years of smoking). VO2 max of smokers (38.9 ±4.6 ml • kg' • min -1) was significantly lower (p <0.05) than that of nonsmokers (42.1 + 3.2 ml • kg' • min -1) only in the young age group of 20-29 years. V02 max expressed in per kg of the body weight (Vo2 max/BW) was found to be significantly (p <0.01) and negatively correlated with number of cigarettes smoked per day (-0.36, p <0.01), number of years through which smoked (-0.38, p<0.01), and pack years (-0.42, p<0.01). In other age groups, though non-smokers predominated over smokers in V02max' the differences were not statistically significant. Also, in these age groups, smoking histories failed to reveal any significant correlation with V02 max• This suggests that smoking impairs V0 2 max only in the young ages. By increasing age, V02 max was diminished by 1300 from 20 to 59 years in non-smokers and 15.500 from 20 to 59 years in smokers. Age also diminished HRmax and VEmax of smokers in the same manner as in the case of non-smokers. The Vo2 max of Indian sedentary non-smokers was found to be lower than those of Caucasians, Kurds, Yemenites, Europeans, and Africans. Values reported on Asians were found to be comparable with those of the present study.

Cardiopulmonary fitness test among Nepalese students

“…Estimated VO2 max of smokers was less than that of non smokers which is similar to the result obtained in other studies [11,12]. However, the difference was smaller here, presumably because the volunteers recruited were recent, moderate smokers.…”

“…The values of VO2 max obtained in the study were higher than the values obtained for other South Asian populations in the same age group suggesting a higher aerobic capacity in Nepalese adult [9][10][11] .Such result could be predicted because of life style and geographical differences (Kathmandu: 1400 meters, Kolkata: 1.5-9 meters). Estimated VO2 max of smokers was less than that of non smokers which is similar to the result obtained in other studies [11,12].…”

Effects of Habitual Smoking on Cardiorespiratory Responses to Sub-maximal Exercise

“…Smoking also affects work performance, especially endurance exercise. Reports show that aerobic (VO 2 max) and anaerobic power are reduced in smokers of various ages (Dressendorfer et al, 1983;Chatterjee et al, 1987;Fukuba et al, 1993;Knapik et al, 1993;Louie 2001;Bernaards et al, 2003). Hirsch et al (1985) reported that VO 2 max and anaerobic threshold were acutely reduced in apparently healthy adult smokers immediately after smoking, as compared to five hours after smoking, presumably because of elevated carbon monoxide and nicotine.…”

Effects of smoking status on content of caloric intake and energy expenditure

“…Smoking status is also associated with differences in potential mediating variables, such as aerobic fitness (Chatterjee, Dey, & Nag, 1987) as well as body weight, both of which are independently related to RMR (Lennon, Nagle, Stratman, Shrago, & Dennis, 1985) and perhaps physical activity (Taylor et al, 1978;Jacobs & Gotenborg, 1981). Thus, for example, smoking may be associated with less physical activity because of reduced fitness of smokers and not some more direct relationship.…”