Estimating Maximal Oxygen Uptake from the Ratio of Heart Rate at Maximal Exercise to Heart Rate at Rest in Middle-Aged Men

PURPOSE: is known to approximate 15 in young well-trained adults. Presumably, the same value is inaccurate for middle-aged men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: were: 49.4±6.4 years, 26.3±3.2 kg/m², 48.5±10.1 metabolic equivalent hours per day, 33.7±7.6 mL/min/kg, 170.1±15.4 beats/min, and 63.3±10.8 beats/min. They included never-smokers 38%, former smokers 29%, and current smokers 33%. RESULTS: in around 50-year-old men approximated 12. One year in age, one step change in BMI (normal weight, overweight, obese), smoking status (never, former, current), and TPA (moderately active, active, highly active) reduced the proportionality factor by 0.1, 0.6, 0.4, and 0.1, respectively. The proportionality factor in obese or current smoking middle-aged men was one point lower compared to normal weight or never-smoking peers. This corresponds to approximately 10 years in chronological age. CONCLUSIONS: . BMI and smoking status can be considered in calculations to improve accuracy.