Reference Values for Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Healthy Koreans

Abstract

We investigated reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) for healthy Koreans and Koreans with coronary heart disease (CHD) and used them to identify inter-ethnic differences in CRF, differences over time in CRF, and differences in CRF between the healthy population and patients with CHD. The study population for healthy Koreans was derived from the database of KISS FitS (Korea Institute of Sports Science Fitness Standards) between 2014 and 2015. The study population for Koreans with CHD was derived from the database of the Korea University Guro Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry between June 2015 and December 2018. In healthy Koreans, there was a significant difference between sex and age groups for VO 2 max. The VO 2 max of healthy Koreans differed from that of Westerners in age-related reference values. Our results were not significantly different from those of the Korean population in the past, except for a small decline in the young population. There seemed to be a clear inter-ethnic difference in CRF. We could also identify signs of small change in CRF in younger age groups. Therefore, CRF should be assessed according to ethnic or national standards, and it will be necessary to establish a reference for each nation or ethnicity with periodic updates.

Validation of FRIEND and ACSM Equations for Cardiorespiratory Fitness: Comparison to Direct Measurement in CAD Patients

“…CRF in CAD patients is significantly decreased compared to that in healthy people. The decrease of CRF is one of the strong risk factors for mortality compared to a traditional risk factor such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes [ 25 , 26 ]. For this reason, exercise-based CR is strongly recommended for CAD patients to achieve healthy lifestyle and risk factor management [ 27 ].…”

Descriptive epidemiology of cardiorespiratory fitness in UK adults: The Fenland Study

“…Fitness declined by approximately 2 ml O2•kg -1 •min -1 per five years in the US-based FRIEND registry 22 , Brazil-based Fleury study 23 , and Norwaybased HUNT study 24 . Similarly, the German-based Prevention First Registry was 1.5 ml O2•kg -1 •min -1 , German-based SHIP study 25 was 1 ml O2•kg -1 •min -1 , and both the Danish Health Examination Survey 26 and Korean-based KISS FitS study 27 were 1.3 ml O2•kg -1 •min -1 . These values are similar to those reported by previous UK-based population studies of fitness [5][6][7][8][9] , where absolute fitness values were generally lower than those reported in the present study.…”

Association Between Diet Quality and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Korean Adults: The 2014–2015 National Fitness Award Project

“…This study applied a cross-sectional design to develop criterion-referenced health-related fitness standards for the Korea Institute of Sports Science Fitness Standards (KISS FitS) project [ 30 , 31 ]. The KISS FitS project was initiated in 2011 by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to promote health through exercise and physical and sporting activities in daily life, and is currently managed by 21 centers.…”

“…CRF was assessed by a graded treadmill exercise test, according to the Bruce treadmill protocol [ 33 ] and quantified as VO 2max (mL/kg/min), as detailed elsewhere [ 30 ]. Briefly, the test started at a speed of 2.7 km/h and a slope of 10%.…”