Abstract:
Background: Reference standards for percentage of ventilatory threshold (VT) to
VO2max have been determined by the Fitness Registry Importance of Exercise National
Database (FRIEND) registry based on age and sex. The reference values show that on
average, VT occurs at 51-74% of VO2max. The reason for variability in these values is
unknown and may be influenced by fitness level. Purpose: To examine the impact of
fitness level on the percentage of VT to VO2max in apparently healthy men and women.
Methods: Participants included 1,784 self-referred male and female participants from the
Ball State Adult Fitness Longitudinal Lifestyle STudy (BALL ST) cohort between 1992
and 2020. Resting health measurements and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)
variables derived from the first available test were used. Percentage of VT to VO2max
was determined by dividing the confirmed VT by the confirmed VO2max derived from
the CPET. Fitness level was determined by using the FRIEND registry and percentiles of
VO2max by age and sex. An ANCOVA and pair-wise comparisons were performed to
determine the differences between fitness levels and compare for age and sex. Results:
The mean percentage for VT to VO2max was significantly higher in the low fit (65.2 ±
10.4%) than the average (61.3 ± 10.9%) and high fit populations (60.8 ± 10.9%) (p <
0.05). A significant difference in BMI (p < 0.05) between all groups was seen, with an
inverse relationship between BMI and fitness level (low fit: 32.0 ± 6.6 kg/m2; average fit:
26.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2; high fit: 24.1 ± 3.1 kg/m2). Conclusion: Low fit populations have a
higher VT when expressed as percentage of VO2max, and thus likely a higher range for
moderate exercise than the other, more fit populations. Exercise physiologists should
consider this when prescribing exercise.
