Applicability of Maximal Oxygen Consumption Criteria in Obese, Postmenopausal Women

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study examines the applicability of using three standard criteria (age-predicted maximal heart rate [HRmax], respiratory exchange ratio [RER>1.10], and plateau in oxygen uptake [Vo(2)] for the measurement of maximal oxygen consumption (Vo(2)max) in postmenopausal women. One hundred eight postmenopausal (60 +/- 6 years), overweight and obese (body mass index [BMI] = 33 +/- 4 kg/m(2)), sedentary (Vo(2)max = 19 +/- 3 ml/kg/min) women underwent one exercise test (Bruce protocol), and 71 of these women underwent a second test (modified Balke protocol). On test 1, 69 (64%) women achieved age-predicted HRmax, 61 (57%) reached an RER>1.10, and 16 (15%) achieved a plateau in Vo(2) (<2 ml/kg/min change). Women who reached age-predicted HRmax and reached an RER of at least 1.10 had a higher peak Vo(2) (p <0.01) than women who did not meet these criteria. There was no difference in the highest V02 obtained between women who did and did not achieve a plateau in Vo(2) during test 1 (p = 0.55). Resting HR, HRmax, and RER were similar between the two tests. On average, peak Vo(2) was higher on the second test (p <0.01). However, Vo(2)max was not different between exercise tests in women who achieved at least two of the three criteria on both tests (n = 24; test 1, 19.4 +/- 3.4; test 2: 19.8 +/- 3.7 ml/kg/min; p = NS). In addition, Vo(2)max was similar between the two exercise tests in 14 women who reached a plateau on the second test but did not reach a plateau on the first test (19.2 +/- 3.3 vs. 19.6 +/- 4.2 ml/kg/min; p = NS). We conclude that achievement of a plateau in Vo(2) is not a necessary criterion for a valid measurement of Vo(2)max in overweight and obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women.

VO2 plateau may not be required for valid VO2max in overweight postmenopausal women; leaves open prospective validation of testing criteria.