Peak Oxygen Uptake and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in 4631 Healthy Women and Men

mL.kg(-1) .min(-1) ASPENES, S. T., T. I. L. NILSEN, E.-A. SKAUG, G. F. BERTHEUSSEN, O. ELLINGSEN, L. VATTEN, and U. WISLOFF. Peak Oxygen Uptake and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in 4631 Healthy Women and Men. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 43, No. 8, pp. 1465-1473, 2011. Introduction: Many studies suggest that cardiorespiratory fitness, measured as peak oxygen uptake ((V) over dotO(2peak)), may be the single best predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and premature cardiovascular mortality. However, current reference values are either estimates of oxygen uptake or come from small studies, mainly of men. Therefore, the aims of this study were to directly measure (V) over dotO(2peak) in healthy adult men and women and to assess the association with cardiovascular risk factor levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 4631 volunteering, free-living Norwegian men (n = 2368) and women (n = 2263) age 20-90 yr. The data collection was from June 2007 to June 2008. Participants were free from known pulmonary or cardiovascular disease. (V) over dotO(2peak) was measured by ergospirometry during treadmill running. Associations (odds ratios, OR) with unfavorable levels of cardiovascular risk factors and a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, mean (V) over dotO(2peak) was 40.0 +/- 9.5 mL.kg(-1) .min(-1). Women below the median (V) over dotO(2peak) (< 35.1 mL.kg(-1) .min(-1)) were five times (OR = 5.4, 95% confidence interval = 2.3-12.9) and men below the median (< 44.2 mL.kg(-1) .min(-1)) were eight times (OR -7.9, 95% confidence interval -3.5-18.0) more likely to have a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors compared to those in the highest quartile of (V) over dotO(2peak) (>= 40.8 and >= 50.5 mL.kg(-1) .min(-1) in women and men, respectively). Each 5-mL.kg(-1) .min(-1) lower (V) over dotO(2peak) corresponded to similar to 56% higher odds of cardiovascular risk factor clustering. Conclusions: These data represent the largest reference material of objectively measured (V) over dotO(2peak) in healthy men and women age 20-90 yr. Even in people considered to be fit, (V) over dotO(2peak) was clearly associated with levels of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.