Age-related change in peak oxygen uptake and change of cardiovascular risk factors. The HUNT Study

Large longitudinal studies on change in directly measured peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) is lacking, and its significance for change of cardiovascular risk factors is uncertain. We aimed to assess ten-year change in VO_2peak and the influence of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and the association between change in VO_2peak and change in cardiovascular risk factors.

A healthy general population sample had their VO_2peak directly measured in two (n = 1431) surveys of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3; 2006-2008 and HUNT4; 2017-19). Average ten-year decline in VO_2peak was non-linear and progressed from 3% in the third to about 20% in the eight decade in life and was more pronounced in men. The fit linear mixed models including an additional 2,933 observations from subjects participating only in HUNT3 showed similar age-related decline. Self-reported adherence to LTPA recommendations was associated with better maintenance of VO_2peak, with intensity seemingly more important than minutes of LTPA with higher age. Adjusted linear regression analyses showed that one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO_2peak was associated with favorable changes of individual cardiovascular risk factors (all p ≤ 0.002). Using logistic regression one mL/kg/min better maintenance of VO_2peak was associated with lower adjusted odds ratio of hypertension (0.95 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98), dyslipidemia (0.92 95% CI 0.89 to 0.94), and metabolic syndrome (0.86 95% CI 0.83 to 0.90) at follow-up.

Although VO_2peak declines progressively with age, performing LTPA and especially high-intensity LTPA is associated with less decline. Maintaining VO_2peak is associated with an improved cardiovascular risk profile.