Cardio-respiratory reference data in 4631 healthy men and women 20-90 years: the HUNT 3 fitness study

Henrik Loe; Sigurd Steinshamn; Ulrik Wisløff

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0113884

Cardio-respiratory reference data in 4631 healthy men and women 20-90 years: the HUNT 3 fitness study

PLoS One. 2014 Nov 26;9(11):e113884. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113884. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Henrik Loe¹, Sigurd Steinshamn², Ulrik Wisløff³

Affiliations

¹ K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Valnesfjord Rehabilitation Center, Valnesfjord, Norway.
² K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Thoracic Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
³ K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine at Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract

Purpose: To provide a large reference material on key cardio-respiratory variables in a healthy population of Norwegian men and women aged 20-90 years.

Methods: Sub maximal and peak levels of cardio-respiratory variables were measured using cardiopulmonary exercise testing during treadmill running.

Results: The highest peak ventilation among men (141.9±24.5 L·min-1) and women (92.0±16.5 L·min-1) was observed in the youngest age group (20-29 years, sex differences p<0.001) with an average 7% reduction per decade. The highest tidal volumes were observed in the 30-39 and 40-49 year age groups among men (2.94±0.46 L) and women (2.06±0.32 L) (sex differences p<0.001), with a subsequent average 6% reduction per decade. Ventilatory threshold and respiratory compensation point were observed at approximately 77% and 87% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) among men and women, respectively. The best ventilatory efficiency (EqVCO2Than) was observed in the youngest age group (20-29 years) in both men (26.2±2.8) and woman (27.5±2.7) (sex differences p<0.001) with an average 3% deterioration in ventilatory efficiency per decade.

Conclusion: This is the largest European reference material of cardio-respiratory variables in healthy men and women aged 20-90 years, establishing normal values for, and associations between key cardio-respiratory parameters. This will be useful in clinical decision making when evaluating cardiopulmonary health in similar populations.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Exercise Test*
Female
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Norway
Oxygen Consumption
Physical Fitness*
Running
Sex Characteristics
Tidal Volume
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was funded by K.G. Jebsen Foundation, The Norwegian Council on Cardiovascular Disease, The Research Council of Norway, Foundation for Cardiovascular Research at St. Olav's Hospital, Norwegian State Railways, Roche Norway Incorporated and Valnesfjord Rehabilitation Center. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.