MAXIMAL OXYGEN-UPTAKE IN 153 ELDERLY DUTCH PEOPLE (69-87 YEARS) WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE 1993 NIJMEGEN 4-DAY MARCH

There are no studies on oxygen uptake of groups of physically active s ubjects aged over 70. This study describes the maximal oxygen uptake ( VO2max) of 153 elderly people who completed the Nijmegen annual 4-day march (at least 30 km . day(-1)) in 1993. A total of 97 men with a mea n age of 76.7 (SD 4.6) and 56 women with a mean age of 72.8 (SD 3.6) y ears participated in the study. The VO2max was determined using increm ental cycle ergometry; 91 men and 49 women completed a maximal exercis e test. Criteria for maximal performance were respiratory exchange rat io equal to or greater than 1.00, vertilatory equivalent for oxygen eq ual to or greater than 30.00 and maximal heart rate equal to or greate r than (beats . min(-1)) 210 minus age (years). Mean maximal power out put was 148.2 (SD 27.2) W and 120.4 (SD 20.5) W, mean VO2max. body mas s(-1) was 26.8 (SD 4.9)ml . kg(-1). min(-1) and 24.6 (SD 4.7)ml . kg(- 1). min(-1), mean maximal heart rate was 152 (SD 18), and 157 (SD 14) beats . min(-1) in men and women respectively. The mean VO2max. body m ass(-1) was about 20% higher than reported in other studies on subject s over 70 years of age. Mean maximal heart rate was about 10 beats . m in(-1) higher than predicted from the equation 220 - age. The negative effect of chronic disease on VO2max. body mass(-1) was smaller than i n a sedentary reference population. The mean decline in VO2max. body m ass(-1) with age was 0.46 and 0.38 ml . kg(-1). min(-1) per year in th e men and women respectively, which is the same rate as found in young er subjects. It was concluded that regular exercise might substantiall y increase aerobic power in the physically active elderly, even when t hey have chronic disease, and that it is unlikely that there is an acc elerated loss of aerobic power in physically active elderly people age d over 70 year.