The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and pulmonary diffusing capacity.
Pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DL,NO) and carbon monoxide (DL,CO) measured at rest (mL/min/mmHg) is strongly associated with aerobic capacity (cardiorespiratory fitness or peak oxygen uptake, VO2peak) measured in L/min. Data from healthy, non-obese individuals from various studies (n=121 males and 81 females) were combined to examine this association. Subjects that were above the upper limit of normal (ULN, 97.5th percentile for age and sex and height) for DL,NO and DLCO had a higher median VO2peakcompared to subjects below the ULN (Above the ULN=4.2-4.5L/min or 54-56mL/kg/min; below the ULN=3.0-3.2L/min, 45-46mL/kg/min, p<0.001). Those that were classified as Superior or Excellent in cardiorespiratory fitness (≥80th percentile in VO2peakfor the person's age and sex) increased their odds of being above the ULN for DL,NO and DL,CO by about 6-fold and 8-fold, respectively, compared to those not classified as being Superior or Excellent in cardiorespiratory fitness. Approximately 65-68% of the variance in DL,NO and DL,CO, respectively, was shared by VO2peak(L/min) (p<0.001). However, after controlling for alveolar volume, sex, height, body mass, and age, the shared variance between pulmonary diffusing capacity and VO2peakdecreased to 16-20% (95% CI=8-30%), and yet, remained statistically significant (p<0.001). The reasons for the shared variance between pulmonary diffusing capacity and VO2peakare discussed.
Georgia State University, Department of Respiratory Therapy, Urban Life Building, Room 1229 (12th Floor), 140 Decatur Street SE, Atlanta, GA, 30303, United States. Electronic address: zavorsky@gsu.edu.
Gerald S
GS
Zavorsky
Department of Physical Therapy, High Point University, High Point, NC, United States.
James M
JM
Smoliga
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult
D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D002248:Carbon Monoxide
Aerobic capacity; Carbon monoxide; Diffusion; Exercise; Lung; Nitric oxide; Nitrogen monoxide