Reference values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing in healthy volunteers: the SHIP study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pulmonology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a vital clinical tool.
• Establishing normative data is essential for accurate interpretation of CPET results.
• Previous reference values may lack representativeness or comprehensive analysis of influencing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a comprehensive set of reference values for cardiopulmonary responses during exercise.
• To investigate the influence of sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) on CPET parameters.
• To provide updated, population-based reference values for a healthy adult cohort.

Main Methods:

• A standardized progressive incremental exercise protocol was used on a cycle ergometer.
• Data were collected from 1,708 volunteers in the
• Study of Health in Pomerania
• epidemiological survey.
• Exclusion criteria targeted individuals with cardiopulmonary, echocardiographic, or lung function pathologies, as well as smokers and obese individuals, resulting in a final sample of 534 healthy participants (253 males, aged 25-80).

Main Results:

• Reference values for CPET parameters were determined using regression analyses.
• Significant associations were found between sex, age, and key exercise parameters.
• Confounding factors like smoking, beta-blocker use, hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, BMI, and physical activity were analyzed for their impact.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first comprehensive set of population-based reference values for CPET parameters in healthy adults.
• The findings highlight the significant influence of sex and age on cardiopulmonary responses to exercise.
• These reference values, adjusted for age and weight, are crucial for improving the clinical assessment and interpretation of CPET in diverse populations.