New Data-based Cutoffs for Maximal Exercise Criteria across the Lifespan

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Cardiopulmonary Function Assessment

Background:

• Accurate assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) is crucial in cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).
• Existing secondary exhaustion criteria may not be universally applicable across different age groups.
• Establishing age-specific criteria is necessary to refine V˙O2max determination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine age-dependent cutoff values for secondary exhaustion criteria in a healthy general population.
• To describe the prevalence of commonly used exhaustion criteria during CPET.
• To analyze oxygen uptake (V˙O2) at these criteria to quantify their impact.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the COmPLETE-Health Study (20-91 years).
• Participants underwent maximal CPET using a cycle ergometer.
• New exhaustion criteria were determined using tolerance intervals for maximal respiratory exchange ratio (RERmax) and age-predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR).

Main Results:

• A V˙O2 plateau was observed in 32% of participants.
• Minor differences in secondary exhaustion criteria were noted between those with and without a V˙O2 plateau.
• Age-specific criteria were defined for RERmax, APMHR210 - age, and APMHR208 × 0.7 age for different age groups.

Conclusions:

• Proposed cutoff values for secondary criteria minimize the risk of underestimating V˙O2max.
• Lower cutoff values could lead to false-positive exhaustion results.
• Age-dependent criteria enhance the accuracy of V˙O2max assessment in CPET.