Cardiovascular responses to maximal treadmill exercise in healthy adult Nigerians

Maximum treadmill exercise, using the Bruce protocol was performed on 124 healthy Nigerians (80 males and 44 females) aged 20-59 years. The mean duration of exercise (DOE) and estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) decreased linearly with increase in age with a high correlation between age and VO2 max (r = -0.82). Males and active subjects had significantly higher values than females and sedentary subjects respectively. From this study, average values of VO2 max in healthy Nigerian men and women can be predicted from the following regression equations for VO2 max (ml of O2 per kg of body weight per min): Sedentary men = 57.2 - 0.528 (years of age) (r = -0.85), Active men = 65.0 - 0.579 (years of age) (r = -0.82), Sedentary women = 34.6 - 0.236 (years of age) (r = -0.61). The regression equation for active women is not predictive as none above the age of 29 years volunteered to participate in this study. The mean maximal heart rate (MHR) was inversely related to age (r = -0.51) and average value of MHR (beats/min) expected in healthy Nigerian men and women can be predicted from the regression equation below: MHR = 207 - 0.620 (age in years) (r = -0.51). This study presents reference data for the assessment of cardiovascular fitness of Nigerians with or without cardiovascular disease.