Biological and Social Determinants of Maximum Oxygen Uptake in Adult Men

The maximum rate of O₂ uptake (V̇O₂max) is one of the most important positive indicators of health. While the V̇O₂max decreases with age, reducing the capacity for physical effort, it can be considerably upregulated through optimal environmental interventions, including systematic physical activity. This study seeks to determine variations in the cardiorespiratory function, estimated from the level of V̇O₂max, in 798 employed men aged 20-59, according to biological (age, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and limb muscle strength and agility) and social (place of residence, education, occupation, economic status, and smoking) predictors. We found that the variables abovementioned, with the exception of smoking and hand strength, were significant predictors of V̇O₂max in univariate logistic regression, with age (OR = 0.52; 95%CI 0.47-0.57) and BMI (OR = 0.91; 95%CI 0.90-0.93) having the greatest effect on V̇O₂max. The additional predictors, established in multivariate analysis, were the place of residence, education, and hand and arm strength. The multivariate model was fairly well-fitted (Nagelkerke r ² = 0.54) and had a satisfactory prognostic value, with over 80% of cases classified correctly. Social variance in the V̇O₂max makes it desirable to develop and implement the intervention programs with physical activity dedicated for men, especially men who are over the age of 50 years and have an excessive body mass, as this could reduce the risk of disorders and help improve the quality of life and workplace effectiveness of this group.