ERJ Open Research (Apr 2019)

Peak oxygen uptake reference values for cycle ergometry for the healthy Dutch population: data from the LowLands Fitness Registry

  • Caspar Frederik Mylius,
  • Wilhelmus Petrus Krijnen,
  • Cornelis Peter van der Schans,
  • Tim Takken,
  • The LowLands Fitness Registry Study Group:,
  • Harriet Wittink,
  • Marcel Schmitz,
  • Pieter-Jan van Ooi,
  • Geert van Beek,
  • Leendert van Galen,
  • Jeroen Molinger,
  • Robert Rozenberg,
  • Marieke van den Oord,
  • Yvonne Hartman,
  • Nicolle Verbaarschot,
  • Aernout Snoek,
  • Jaap Stomphorst,
  • Joep van Kesteren

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.00056-2018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5, no. 2

Abstract

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Peak oxygen uptake (V′O2peak) is recognised as the best expression of aerobic fitness. Therefore, it is essential that V′O2peak reference values are accurate for interpreting a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). These values are country specific and influenced by underlying biological ageing processes. They are normally stratified per paediatric and adult population, resulting in a discontinuity at the transition point between prediction equations. There are currently no age-related reference values available for the lifespan of individuals in the Dutch population. The aim of this study is to determine the best-fitting regression model for V′O2peak in the healthy Dutch paediatric and adult populations in relation to age. In this retrospective study, CPET cycle ergometry results of 4477 subjects without reported somatic diseases were included (907 females, age 7.9–65.0 years). Generalised additive models were employed to determine the best-fitting regression model. Cross-validation was performed against an independent dataset consisting of 3518 subjects (170 females, age 6.8–59.0 years). An additive model was the best fitting with the largest predictive accuracy in both the primary (adjusted R2=0.57, standard error of the estimate (see)=556.50 mL·min−1) and cross-validation (adjusted R2=0.57, see=473.15 mL·min−1) dataset. This study provides a robust additive regression model for V′O2peak in the Dutch population.