title: Maximal aerobic capacity in ageing subjects: actual measurementsversuspredicted values.
abstract: We evaluated the impact of selection of reference values on the categorisation of measured maximal oxygen consumption (V'O2peak) as "normal" or "abnormal" in an ageing population. We compared measuredV'O2peakwith predicted values and the lower limit of normal (LLN) calculated with five equations. 99 (58 males and 41 females) disease-free subjects aged ≥70 years completed an incremental maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer. MeanV'O2peakwas 1.88 L·min-1in men and 1.26 L·min-1in women.V'O2peakranged from 89% to 108% of predicted in men, and from 88% to 164% of predicted in women, depending on the reference equation used. The proportion of subjects below the LLN ranged from 5% to 14% in men and 0-22% in women, depending on the reference equation. The LLN was lacking in one study, and was unsuitable for women in another. Most LLNs ranged between 53% and 73% of predicted. Therefore, choosing an 80% cut-off leads to overestimation of the proportion of "abnormal" subjects. To conclude, the proportion of subjects aged ≥70 years with a "low"V'O2peakdiffers markedly according to the chosen reference equations. In clinical practice, it is still relevant to test a sample of healthy volunteers and select the reference equations that better characterise this sample.
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pistea
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lonsdorfer
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doutreleau
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oswald
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.affiliation: Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Pôle de Pathologie Thoracique, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg et Equipe d'Accueil 3072, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charloux