Maximum Oxygen Consumption (VO2 max) Estimation using Direct and Indirect Method in Indian Population: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) has been considered the single best indicator of the cardio respiratory fitness. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) is the maximum amount of oxygen a person can intake and utilise during intense exercise. Aim: To estimate and compare VO2 max measured by using direct and indirect methods. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional pilot study in which total of 100 apparently healthy students (male and female) were recruited from RUHS-College of Medical Sciences, Jaipur from January 2019 to August 2019. VO2 max of each participant was determined. Direct estimation of VO2 max comprised of sub-maximal exercise test on treadmill using gas analyser whereas VO2 max was indirectly predicted by standard protocol of Queen College step Test (QCT) with a gap of four days in between the tests. Collected data were entered in Microsoft-Excel and Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis of data. Results: The mean value of VO2 max (mL/kg/min) using direct method was 44.66±9.25 and that of using indirect method was 48.00±8.02. There was statistically very significant difference between two methods of VO2 max estimation (p=0.0032). Mean value of VO2 max for males was 47.56±8.37 mL/kg/min and for females it was 37.62±7.40 mL/kg/min, which was found statistically significant (p=0.0001) higher in males than in females. Conclusion: From the present investigation it may be concluded that the actual VO2 max is lower than the predicted VO2 max from the QCT which suggest that the prediction equation is not applicable to the studied population due to difference of ethnicity. With the help of estimated VO2 max we can find out physical fitness in individuals and creating awareness about physical activity and life style modification for primary prevention of cardiovascular, metabolic and mental disorders.

Keywords

• cardio-respiratory fitness
• queen college’s step test
• volume of oxygen