Objective

This study aims to construct quantile reference values for peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) measured by cycle ergometry-based incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests.

Design

Cross-sectional study using quantile regressions to fit sex-specific and age-specific quantile curves. Exercise tests were conducted using cycle ergometry. Maximal effort in the exercise tests wass assumed when respiratory exchange ratio ≥1.1 or lactate ≥8 mmol/L or maximal heart rate ≥90% of the age-predicted maximal heart rate. This was assessed retrospectively for a random subsample with an a priori calculated sample size of n=252 participants.

Setting

A network of private outpatient clinics in three German cities recorded the results of cycle ergometry-based cardiopulmonary exercise tests to a central database (Prevention First Registry) from 2001 to 2015.

Participants

10 090 participants (6462 men, 3628 women) from more than 100 local companies volunteered in workplace health promotion programmes. Participants were aged 21 to 83 years, were free of acute complaints and had primarily sedentary working environments.

Main outcome measure

Peak oxygen uptake was measured as absolute VO_2peak in litres of oxygen per minute and relative VO_2peak in millilitres of oxygen per kilogram of body mass per minute.

Results

The mean age for both men and women was 46 years. Median relative VO_2peak was 36 and 30 mL/kg/min at 40 to 49 years, as well as 32 and 26 mL/kg/min at 50 to 59 years for men and women, respectively. An estimated proportion of 97% of the participants performed the exercise test until exertion.

Conclusions

Reference values and nomograms for VO_2peak were derived from a large sample of preventive healthcare examinations of healthy white-collar workers. The presented results can be applied to participants of exercise tests using cycle ergometry who are part of a population that is comparable to this study.