Referenzwerte für die maximale Sauerstoffaufnahme: Querschnittsanalysen von Fahrrad-Spiroergometrien aus dem Prevention First Register

Objective: To construct quantile reference values for peak oxygen uptake (V̇O₂peak) measured by cycle ergometer-based incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Design: Cross-sectional study using quantile regressions to fit sex- and age-specific quantile curves. Exercise tests were conducted using cycle ergometry. Maximal effort in the exercise tests was assumed when RER ≥1.1 or lactate ≥8mmol*L^-1 or maximal heart rate ≥90% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate. This was assessed retrospectively for a random subsample with an a priori calculated sample size of n=252 participants. A network of private outpatient clinics in three German cities recorded the results of cycle ergometer-based cardiopulmonary exercise tests to a central data base (“Prevention First Registry”) from 2001 to 2015. Participants: 10,090 participants (6,462 men, 3,628 women) from more than 100 local companies volunteered in workplace health promotion programs. Participants were aged 46±7 years, were free of acute complaints, and had primarily sedentary working environments. Results: Peak oxygen uptake was measured as absolute V̇O₂ peak in L*min^-1 and relative V̇O₂ peak in mL*min^-1*kg^-1. Median relative V̇O₂ peak was 36 and 30mL*min^-1*kg^-1 at 40 to 49 years, as well as 32 and 26mL*min^-1*kg^-1 at 50 to 59 years for men and women, respectively. An estimated proportion of 97% of the participants performed the exercise test until exertion. Conclusions: Reference values and nomograms for V̇O₂ peak were derived from a large cohort of preventive health care examinations of healthy white-collar workers. The presented results can be applied to participants of exercise tests using cycle ergometer who are part of a population that is comparable to this study.