Age-related declines in maximal aerobic capacity in regularly exercising vs. sedentary women: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Our purpose was to determine the relationship between habitual aerobic exercise status and the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity across the adult age range in women. A meta-analytic approach was used in which mean maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) values from female subject groups (ages 18-89 yr) were obtained from the published literature. A total of 239 subject groups from 109 studies involving 4,884 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were arbitrarily separated into sedentary (groups = 107; subjects = 2,256), active (groups = 69; subjects = 1, 717), and endurance-trained (groups = 63; subjects = 911) populations. VO2 max averaged 29.7 +/- 7.8, 38.7 +/- 9.2, and 52.0 +/- 10.5 ml . kg-1 . min-1, respectively, and was inversely related to age within each population (r = -0.82 to -0.87, all P < 0.0001). The rate of decline in VO2 max with increasing subject group age was lowest in sedentary women (-3.5 ml . kg-1 . min-1 . decade-1), greater in active women (-4.4 ml . kg-1 . min-1 . decade-1), and greatest in endurance-trained women (-6.2 ml . kg-1 . min-1 . decade-1) (all P < 0.001 vs. each other). When expressed as percent decrease from mean levels at age approximately 25 yr, the rates of decline in VO2 max were similar in the three populations (-10.0 to -10.9%/decade). There was no obvious relationship between aerobic exercise status and the rate of decline in maximal heart rate with age. The results of this cross-sectional study support the hypothesis that, in contrast to the prevailing view, the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age is greater, not smaller, in endurance-trained vs. sedentary women. The greater rate of decline in VO2 max in endurance-trained populations may be related to their higher values as young adults (baseline effect) and/or to greater age-related reductions in exercise volume; however, it does not appear to be related to a greater rate of decline in maximal heart rate with age.

Relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness, hippocampal volume, and episodic memory in a population at risk for Alzheimer's disease

“…Additionally, although the amount of time between the CRF test, MRI scan, and the RAVLT was not a significant predictor in either regression model, it is a limitation. CRF is known to decline with age, and meta‐analyses of cross‐sectional data demonstrate 7–10% decline in CRF per decade in adult men and women (Fitzgerald, Tanaka, Tran, & Seals, 1997; Wilson & Tanaka, 2000). Thus, we might expect a small (<l %) decline for the current study.…”

Pre-Exercise Participation Cardiovascular Screening in a Heterogeneous Cohort of Adult Cancer Patients

“…All data were recorded as the highest 30-second value elicited during exercise testing. Mean percentage of age-and sex-predicted peak heart rate and VO 2peak was calculated from the equation provided by Jones et al [19] and Fitzgerald et al [20] for women and by Wilson and Tanaka [21] for men.…”

Efficacy of cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise in rheumatoid arthritis: Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…However, Lyngberg et al (28) showed that an individually adapted training session performed at 50 -70% of the maximal heart rate can be performed in elderly RA patients. Physiologic function capacity decreases linearly with aging (42,43). As a consequence, a baseline evaluation of physiologic function capacity and cardiovascular risk factors is mandatory in order to adapt exercise intensity to older RA patients.…”