Age-related declines in maximal aerobic capacity in regularly exercising vs. sedentary women: A meta-analysis

Our purpose was to determine the relationship between habitual aerobic exercise status and the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity across the adult age range in women. A meta-analytic approach was used in which mean maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) values from female subject groups (ages 18-89 yr) were obtained from the published literature. A total of 239 subject groups from 109 studies involving 4,884 subjects met the inclusion criteria and were arbitrarily separated into sedentary (groups = 107; subjects = 2,256), active (groups = 69; subjects = 1,717), and endurance-trained (groups = 63; subjects = 911) populations. VO2max averaged 29.7 +/- 7.8, 38.7 +/- 9.2, and 52.0 +/- 10.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1), respectively, and was inversely related to age within each population (r = -0.82 to -0.87, all P < 0.0001). The rate of decline in VO2max with increasing subject group age was lowest in sedentary women (-3.5 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) decade(-1)), greater in active women (-4.4 ml.kg(-1).min(-1) decade(-1)), and greatest in endurance-trained women (-6.2 ml.kg(-1).min(-1).decade(-1)) (all P < 0.001 vs. each other). When expressed as percent decrease from mean levels at age similar to 25 yr, the rates of decline in VO2max were similar in the three populations (-10.0 to -10.9%/decade). There was no obvious relationship between aerobic exercise status and the rate of decline in maximal heart rate with age. The results of this cross-sectional study support the hypothesis that, in contrast to the prevailing view, the rate of decline in maximal aerobic capacity with age is greater, not smaller, in endurance-trained vs. sedentary women. The greater rate of decline in VO2max in endurance-trained populations may be related to their higher values as young adults (baseline effect) and/or to greater age-related reductions in exercise volume; however, it does not appear to be related to a greater rate of decline in maximal heart rate with age.