Normal References of Peak Oxygen Uptake for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measured with Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Chinese Adults

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to establish normal reference values of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in Chinese adults using cardiorespiratory exercise testing (CPET). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in four communities, two in the North (Beijing) and two in the South (Hezhou, Guangxi) of China from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018, with one urban and one rural in each region. Out of 1642 participants screened, 1114 were eligible and completed CPET using a cycle ergometer (Ergosana320F) without abnormal ECG and were included in the analysis. The 2nd and 98th percentiles of V(·)O2peak were used as the lower and upper limits of the normal reference values. Results: Significant difference in mean V(·)O2peak was shown between men (27.0 mL·min−1·kg−1) and women (23.7 mL·min−1·kg−1). The mean V(·)O2peak decreased with age in both sexes, from 35.8 mL·min−1·kg−1 in age 20–29 years to 20.5 mL·min−1·kg−1 in 70–79 years in men and from 29.2 mL·min−1·kg−1 to 17.0 mL·min−1·kg−1 in women. Thus, the age- and sex-specific normal reference values of V(·)O2peak were presented for each 10-year age group by men and women separately. Conclusions: This first community-based study in China provides age- and sex-specific normal references of V(·)O2peak as a measure of CRF in Chinese adults, which differed significantly from those established in Western populations. Future studies with national representative samples should be warranted.

Reference Standards of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measured With the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Using the Treadmill in Chinese Adults Younger Than 60 Years

“…Compared with the CPX parameters based on the cycle ergometer for Chinese adults,12 the relative V˙O 2peak based on treadmill was notably higher in all age groups. The mean differences of V˙O 2peak ranged from 6.8-15.6 mL/kg/min, consistent with the findings of other reports 8,13…”

“…[7][8][9] These reference standards can be used to compare CRF relative to peers and as an aide for clinical decision-making.A systematic review in 2019 showed that CRF reference standards were established in 29 studies (nine from North America, four from South America, and 16 from Europe, without relative data from the general Asian population). 10 Dun et al 12 and Wang et al 12 successively provided reference values for CRF measured with CPX in Chinese adults from relatively small sample sizes (n = 964 and n =1114). However, in China treadmill-based CPX is widely applied.…”