Cardiorespiratory Reference Data in Older Adults: The Generation 100 Study

Purpose: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is regarded a clinical vital sign, and accurate reference values for all age groups are essential. Little data exist on CRF and cardiorespiratory function in older adults. The aim of this study was to provide normative values for CRF and cardiorespiratory function in older adults, including people with history of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods: In total, 1537 (769 women) participants age 70 to 77 yr underwent clinical examinations and cardiopulmonary exercise tests. Peak oxygen uptake (<(V)over dot>O-2peak), ventilation (<(V)over dot>(Epeak)), expiration of carbon dioxide (V<(V)over dot>CO2peak), breathing frequency (BFpeak), tidal volume (V-Tpeak), oxygen pulse (O-2 pulse(peak)), ventilatory efficiency (Eq<(V) over dot>O-2peak and Eq<(V)over dot>CO2peak), and 1-min HR recovery were assessed. Results: Men compared with women had higher <(V)over dot>O-2peak (31.3 +/- 6.7 vs 26.2 +/- 5.0 mL.min(-1).kg(-1)), BFpeak (41.8 +/- 8.0 vs 39.7 +/- 7.1 breaths per minute), V-Tpeak (2.3 +/- 0.5 vs 1.6 +/- 0.3), O-2 pulse(peak) (16.4 +/- 3.2 vs 11.3 +/- 2.0), <(V)over dot>CO2peak (2.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.9 +/- 0.1 L.min(-1)), <(V)over dot>(Epeak) (96.2 +/- 21.7 vs 61.1 +/- 21.6 L.min(-1)), Eq<(V)over dot>O-2peak (38.0 +/- 6.9 vs 35.1 +/- 5.6), and Eq<(V)over dot>CO2peak (33.5 +/- 5.7 vs 31.9 +/- 4.5). Women and men with CVD had lower <(V)over dot>O-2peak (14% and 19%), peak HR (5% and 6%), <(V)over dot>(Epeak) (8% and 10%), VTpeak (7% and 4%), and lower Eq<(V)over dot>CO2peak (4% and 6%) compared with their healthy counterparts, respectively. Compared with healthy women and men, 1-min HR recovery was 12% and 16% lower for women and men with CVD. Conclusions: This study represents the largest reference material on directly measured CRF and cardiorespiratory function in older men and women, with and without CVD. This novel information will help researchers and clinicians to interpret data form cardiopulmonary testing in older adults.