Measured and Predicted Maximal Oxygen Consumption (VO2max) in Healthy Young Adults: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) can be estimated using maximal or sub-maximal tests, by direct or indirect methods.The Queen’s College Step Test (QCT) is used very frequently to estimate VO2max due to its simple, safe, quick and feasible approach. Originally the QCT was developed for the white race population, which is different from the Indian population in terms of ethnicity. So the present study was conducted to validate the applicability of the QCT to indirectly estimate VO2max in Indian adults. Material and Methods: A total of 419 apparently healthy students (male and female) were recruited for the study by the RUHS College of Medical Sciences (RUHS-CMS), Jaipur from January 2019 to March 2020 by random number table generator sampling. Direct estimation of VO2max was performed by sub-maximal exercise testing on a treadmill using a gas analyzer, while VO2max was indirectly predicted by the standard QCT protocol. The collected data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using unpaired student t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis.Results: The average directly measured VO2max (ml/kg/min) in males was 45.30±7.35, and for women was 35.71±5.29, and predicted by the QCT was 49.01 for males and 38.83±5.30 for females. The difference between the measured and predicted mean VO2max (PVO2max) values was statistically significant (p-value<0.05). Conclusion: In this study, actual VO2max was lower than the predicted VO2max from the QCT. The results of this study suggest that a new equation derived from the present data, recommended to assess VO2max using QCT in the Indian population, especially when large numbers of participants need to be tested in the absence of a well-equipped laboratory.