Reproducibility of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope in normal healthy subjects.
BACKGROUND
To elucidate the intertest agreement of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) in comparison with those of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT).


METHODS



METHODS
A comparative study.


METHODS
Institutional practice. A total of 19 healthy volunteers underwent two sessions of maximal exercise testing with an interval of no more than 7 days. The testing was conducted on a cycle ergometer with the work rate increased by either 20, 30, or 40 Watts (W)/min so that the subject would reach exhaustion within 9 to 12 min of exercise. VAT was defined as the level of oxygen uptake (VO2) at which either an increase in the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen without a concomitant increase in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide or a change in the slope of the linear relationship between carbon-dioxide production (VCO2) and VO2 occurred. OUES was determined by the following equation: VO2 = a log VE + b, where VE was minute ventilation and "a" was the OUES. Intertest reproducibility was assessed by coefficient of repeatability (COR).


RESULTS
The intertest reproducibility of VO2max and OUES were excellent (COR = 570 ml/min [16%] and 740 [20%], respectively). VAT showed poor agreement between the two tests (COR = 650 ml/min [31%]).


CONCLUSIONS
Results show that OUES is reproducible and reliable, supporting the clinical usefulness of this index.
Baba
R
R
Tokai University School of Physical Education, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kubo
N
N
Morotome
Y
Y
Iwagaki
S
S
D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics