Correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in individuals with different glucose metabolism...

To investigate Cardiorespiratory Fitness indicators in populations with different glucose metabolism statuses and analyze their correlation with body composition.

This study retrospectively included 144 individuals who voluntarily underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing at Qinhuangdao First Hospital from January 2023 to June 2025. Based on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, participants were categorized into the Normal Glucose Tolerance Group (n = 76), Prediabetes Group (n = 22), and Diabetes Mellitus Group (n = 46). Differences in general characteristics, laboratory indicators, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and body composition were analyzed among the three groups. Univariate correlation analysis was applied to assess the relationship between maximal oxygen uptake per kilogram body weight (VO₂/kg) and other indicators. Multiple linear regression analysis was then performed with maximal VO₂/kg as the dependent variable to evaluate influencing factors.

Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among the three groups in maximal metabolic equivalents (MET), maximal VO₂/kg, maximal heart rate (HR), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, and obesity index. Age, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, FPG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), VFA, skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, body fat percentage, and obesity index were significantly correlated with maximal VO₂/kg. Age, BMI, FPG, HDL-C, VFA, and skeletal muscle mass were identified as independent influencing factors for maximal VO₂/kg, collectively explaining 50.9% of the total variance.

Age, BMI, FPG, HDL-C, VFA, and skeletal muscle mass were influencing factors for maximal VO₂/kg. VFA was the strongest negative predictor, while skeletal muscle mass served as its positive predictor. These findings may provide a basis for identifying high-risk populations with declining Cardiorespiratory Fitness among individuals with abnormal glucose metabolism.