Predicted values of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in healthy individuals (a pilot study)

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing evaluates the ability of one's cardiovascular and respiratory system in maximal exercise. This was a descriptive cross-sectional pilot study conducted at Masih Daneshvari Hospital in order to determine predicted values of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in individuals with normal physical activity patterns.

Thirty four individuals (14 women, 20 men) between 18-57 years of age were chosen using simple sampling method and evaluated with an incremental progressive cycle-ergometer test to a symptom-limited maximal tolerable work load. Subjects with a history of ischemic heart disease, pulmonary disease or neuromuscular disease were excluded from the study. Smokers were included but we made sure that all subjects had normal FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. This study aimed to compare measured values of VO2, VCO2, VO2/Kg, RER, O2pulse, HRR, HR, Load, Ant, BF, BR, VE, EQCO2, and EQO2 with previously published predicted values.

We found that our obtained values for VO2 max, HRR max and HR max were different from standard tables but such difference was not observed for other understudy variables. Multiple linear regression analysis was done for height, weight and age (due to the small number of samples, no difference was detected between males and females). VO2 max and load max had reverse correlation with age and direct correlation with weight and height (P < 0.05) but the greatest correlation was observed for height.

Due to the small number of samples and poor correlations it was not possible to do regression analysis for other variables. In the next study with a larger sample size predicted values for all variables will be calculated. If the future study also indicates a significant difference between the predicted values and the reference values, we will need standard tables made specifically for our own country, Iran.