Comparison of Predicted Exercise Capacity Equations and the Effect of Actual versus Ideal Body Weight among Subjects Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Abstract

Background. Oxygen uptake at maximal exercise (VO₂ max) is considered the best available index for assessment of exercise capacity. The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of actual versus ideal body weight in standard regression equations for predicted VO₂ max results in differences in predicted VO₂ max. Methods. This is a retrospective chart review of patients who were predominantly in active military duty with complaints of dyspnea or exercise tolerance and who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) from 2007 to 2009. Results. A total of 230 subjects completed CPET on a bicycle ergometer with a male predominance (62%) and an average age of 37 ± 15 years. There was significant discordance between the measured VO₂ max and predicted VO₂ max when measured by the Hansen and Wasserman reference equations ( $P<0.001$ ). Specifically, there was less overestimation when predicted VO₂ max was based on ideal body weight as opposed to actual body weight. Conclusion. Our retrospective analysis confirmed the wide variations in predicted versus measured VO₂ max based on varying prediction equations and showed the potential advantage of using ideal body weight as opposed to actual body weight in order to further standardize reference norms.

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1. Introduction

The determination of functional capacity to perform maximal exercise is one of the intended goals of any form of stress testing. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) offers two specific advantages over conventional stress testing. During conventional testing, the degree of effort can be measured in several ways including subject report of volitional fatigue, ratings of perceived exertion, the percentage of predicted heart rate achieved, and the interpretation of the provider who is supervising the test. Another advantage of CPET is the direct measurement of maximal oxygen consumption as a measure of functional capacity, referred to as VO₂ max.

The objective of this study was to compare published reference values for VO₂ max based on ideal versus actual body weight to determine the effect on interpretation of maximal exercise during CPET.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Protocol and Oversight

The study is a retrospective review of a series of CPET data initially utilizing predicted VO₂ max using the Jones 1983 reference equation: Male: $\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}{\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=\mathrm{4.2}-(\mathrm{0.032}*\text{age})$ , and Female: ${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=\mathrm{2.6}-(\mathrm{0.014}*\text{age})$ .

Maximum VO₂ was recalculated using different prediction equations and ideal versus actual body weight, respectively. Physicians trained in the interpretation of CPET determined if interpretation of maximal exercise differed using the various prediction equations (Jones et al., 1985; Hansen et al., 1984; Wasserman et al., 1999) as well as ideal versus actual body weight, respectively, as follows.

 

Jones et al., 1985 [2]:

 

${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=\mathrm{0.046}\hspace{0.17em}\text{(ht)}-\mathrm{0.21}\hspace{0.17em}\text{(age)}-\mathrm{0.62}\hspace{0.17em}\text{(sex)}-\mathrm{4.31}$ ,

 

Hansen et al., 1984 [3]:

 

Male: ${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=\text{wt}\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}*(\mathrm{50.75}-(\mathrm{0.37}*\text{age}))/\mathrm{1000}$ ,

 

Female: ${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=(\text{wt}+\mathrm{43})*(\mathrm{22.78}-(\mathrm{0.17}*\text{age}))/\mathrm{1000}$ ,

 

Wasserman et al., 1999 [4]:

 

Male: ${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=\text{wt}*(\mathrm{50.72}-(\mathrm{0.372}*\text{age}))/\mathrm{1000}$ ,

 

Female: ${\text{VO}}_{\mathrm{2}}\hspace{0.17em}(\text{L}/\min )=(\text{wt}+\mathrm{42.8})\mathrm{\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}}*(\mathrm{22.78}-(\mathrm{0.17}*\text{age}))/\mathrm{1000}$ .

2.2. Data Collection

All CPET studies were performed in the Brooke Army Medical Center Pulmonary Function Laboratory beginning in January 2007 through December 2009. The study group primarily consisted of active duty military being evaluated for dyspnea or exercise intolerance. Studies were performed on a graded exercise test using an incremental protocol on a cycle ergometer, and patients performed a maximal exercise test until limited by fatigue or symptoms. Oxygen saturation was monitored with the LifeStat 1600 pulse oximeter (Physio-Control; Redmond, WA), and 12-lead electrocardiograph monitoring was accomplished via the Marquette 2000 during the test. Blood pressures were taken before the test and immediately upon completion of exercise. All participants were exercised using a standard protocol with increases in resistance of 25 watts every minute and were asked to continue exercising until exhaustion or limited by symptoms. During the entire warm-up, exercise, and recovery phases of the test, expired gas analysis was performed through the 2900 Series Metabolic Cart (Sensormedics; Yorba Linda, CA). Gas analysis measurements included oxygen consumption (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂), tidal volume (TV), respiratory rate (RR), and minute ventilation (VE).

2.3. Statistical Analysis

Data are presented as mean ± SD. Demographic comparisons between genders were analyzed by a two-tail Student’s $t$ test. Actual measured VO₂ max was compared to predicted VO₂ max between all methods using a one-way ANOVA with Holm-Sidak post hoc test. Clinical agreement between algorithms for VO₂ max using actual versus ideal body weights using limit of VO₂ max ≤ 84% predicted maximums for nominal data was assessed using Cohen’s kappa, and the McNemar test was employed to test discordance. $P\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}\text{values}<0.05$ were considered significant. Regression analysis was employed to assess the strength of association between VO₂ max predictors and actual VO₂ max measurements, and a Bland-Altman test was employed to assess agreement throughout the range of predicted VO₂ max for each algorithm.

3. Results

3.1. Baseline Patient Characteristics

The study population consisted of 230 subjects with male predominance (62%) and a mean age of 37 ± 15 years. Table 1 illustrates differences among genders with the population. Figure 1 illustrates the marked variance among all VO₂ predictive equations $(P<0.001)$ , regardless of whether ideal body weight was used or not, as well as significant overestimation of predicted VO₂ max compared with actual measured VO₂ max in this population. Figure 2 compares regression lines for the  Hansen algorithm using either actual or ideal body weights to predict VO₂ max. Although $R^2$ was greater when using ideal body weight, the discordance of the estimates of true VO₂ max, using ideal or actual body weights, was greater when VO₂ max was low. Figures 3 and 4 indicate only a moderate agreement between Hansen algorithms using actual versus ideal body weights to predict VO₂ max ≤ 84%. Although 80.8% of time results agreed $(\text{kappa}=0.566)$ , there was significant discordance $(19.2\%,\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}P<0.001)$ between tests.

Table 1

Demographics gender variations.

Column 1	Male ( $n=142$ )	Female ( $n=88$ )	$P$ value
Age (yrs)	36 ± 14	40 ± 16	0.049
Height (cm)	176.9 ± 8.2	163.9 ± 7.9	<0.001
Weight (Kg)	89.4 ± 18.3	72.3 ± 13.8	<0.001
Ideal weight (Kg)	79.0 ± 6.6	64.1 ± 5.3	<0.001
BMI (Kg/M2)	28.6 ± 5.6	27.1 ± 5.7	<0.001

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4. Discussion

VO₂ max reflects the product of cardiac output and the arteriovenous oxygen difference at peak exercise. Clinically, it is usually expressed as a percentage of predicted since it is believed to be more appropriate for intersubject comparisons as opposed to the standardization by body mass [1]. Because this is a weight-indexed value, differences in weight alone can impact the calculation irrespective of other objective factors. This is illustrated by the observation that obese patients have lower VO₂ max results than those of normal weight due to the fact that adipose tissue is relatively metabolically inactive. The measurement of VO₂ max is influenced by many factors to include age, sex, body size and composition, and level of aerobic training. Consequently, different prediction equations can yield different predicted VO₂ values based on which variables are used in the calculations.

According to recommendations made by the American Thoracic Society/American College of Chest Physicians (ATS/ACCP) in a statement on CPET, the two most widely used sets of references values, Jones et al. [2] and Hansen et al. [3], should be used clinically. Wasserman et al. published as well a different set of reference values used for VO₂ max in addition to the ATS/ACCP endorsed references mentioned earlier [4]. At least one study has demonstrated that different sets of maximal reference values can have significant impact on interpretation of CPET results [5].

The ATS/ACCP guidelines address the issue of peak VO₂ prediction based on weight and acknowledge the absence of standardization regarding the best index of body size. They acknowledge the known miscalculations of VO₂ max in obese patients. They allude to recommendations made by several experts about referencing VO₂ to fat-free weight (FFW) and believe that this index has the added advantage of accounting for gender differences in VO₂ max. However, the ATS/ACCP stopped short in making this recommendation since the routine measurement of FFW would be difficult to implement in most conventional exercise laboratories. The ATS/ACCP therefore recommends that VO₂ max be expressed as an absolute value and as a percentage of the predicted value. Maximum VO₂ should also be referenced to body weight (in kilograms) and/or height in the formatting of the report so that the impact of body size on exercise results is readily recognized [6].

Several experts have examined the applicability of body size and the interpretation of VO₂ max. Buskirk and Taylor made the observation that VO₂ max was more closely relevant to fat-free weight (FFW) than to total body weight. FFW may not be related to level of conditioning. They stressed the importance of calculating VO₂ max in relation to lean body mass to avoid misclassification of obese patients [2]. Hansen and associates studied 77 ex-shipyard workers, one-third of whom were obese, defined as weight greater than 120% of expected for height. In this population, he proposed that height should be used with age and sex as predictors of VO₂. His theory was tested using the formulas of Bruce and coworkers who first showed the relationship between height and weight in a sedentary middle-aged male population [3]. They used height to estimate normal weight and used the normalized weight in all those above this value. In only 2 of 77 subjects did the measured VO₂ differ widely from the predicted VO₂. Maximum VO₂ was poorly predicted if actual weight was used in their obese population.

A recent study by Sill et al. examining CPET in a similar normal population of military personnel (mean age of 25.4 ± 4.3 years, body mass index of 24.4 ± 2.8, and percent body fat of 21.3 ± 6.1) found only a slight decrease in the predicted normal VO₂ max to 82% predicted [7]. In a 1974 study in which 710 healthy, active duty Air Force personnel underwent maximal exercise testing, the authors published a regression equation used to predict VO₂ max. However, the study population included only men, and the regression equation only factored in age, making no adjustments for height or weight. Another study evaluating exercise capacity in a military population included 1,514 male and 375 female active duty military personnel and reported VO₂ max mean values of 51 and 37 mL/kg/weight/min for males and females, respectively [8].

In our study population, predicted VO₂ max, when indexed to weight, was overestimated compared to measured VO₂ max regardless of the predictive equation used. However, there was less overestimation when predicted VO₂ max was based on ideal body weight (IBW) as opposed to actual body weight.

One of the limitations of this chart review is that approximately 70% of the study population failed to achieve 84% of predicted VO₂ max. This could have been attributed to true pathology, decreased exercise capacity, obesity, or merely not being pushed to peak exertional capacity. The latter seems like the most plausible explanation for at least a portion of the subjects since evaluation of heart rates revealed that 31% of the study population also failed to achieve 84% of their target heart rate. Another important limitation of this study is that the study population included symptomatic subjects who were not an exclusively healthy group of young volunteers. This again highlights the need for a set of population-based norms for CPET evaluation and interpretation. Furthermore, physical fitness impacts the correlation among the reference equations, and the fact that only approximately one-third of men and women in our subgroup analysis met Air Force standards for fitness could be skewing our results.

Despite the previous limitations, this study is unique since comparing predicted to measured VO₂ max using the variety of known prediction equations has never been done previously. Our retrospective analysis confirmed the wide variations in predicted versus measured VO₂ based on varying prediction equations and shows the potential advantage of using ideal body weight as opposed to actual body weight in order to further standardize reference norms. It also illustrates the need for having population-specific reference norms for the most relevant and accurate interpretation of cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Disclaimer

The opinions in this paper do not constitute endorsement by San Antonio Army Medical Center, the US Army Medical Department, the US Army Office of the Surgeon General, the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the US Government of the information contained therein.

Glossary

Abbreviations

CPET:Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

RER: Respiratory exchange ratio

VCO₂: Carbon dioxide production

VO₂: Oxygen consumption

VO₂ max: Maximum oxygen consumption

ATS: American Thoracic Society

ACCP: American College of Chest Physicians

TV: Tidal volume

RR: Respiratory rate

VE: Minute ventilation

FFW: Fat-free weight.

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