To establish the reference values of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and study ventilatory responses to maximal exercise loading in Koreans, the symptom-limited maximal exercise test by Bruce protocol was carried out in 744 healthy korean adults
consisting of 420 men and 324 women. The VO2max was the greatest in the age of 20's, the mean (±SD) being 2.18±0.290L/min/M2 and 1.65±0.204L/min M2 in men and women, respectively. Regression equations for VO2max using age alone as a variable
revealed
that estimated yearly reductions in VO2max for men and women were 14.3ml/min/M2 and 9.0ml/min/M2, respectively. Both VCO2 max and VE max, which were greater in men, also diminished with age in both genders, but the VE max/VCO2 max, unlike the
other
ventilatory parameters, were not much different between age groups in both sexes. The RR max decreased with age but showed no significant difference between men and women. The VT max was greater in men but not significantly different between age
groups
in both sexes. The mean ratios of VT max/VC and VE max/MVV were approximately 0.5 and 0.7, respectively, in both genders, indicating that there were considerable reserves in the ventilatory capacity even at maximal exercise. These facts indicate
that
VO2, VCO2, VE, and RR at maximal exercise decrease with age, and also reconfirm that ventilatory function does no limit VO2 max in healthy adults in all age groups.
|