A specific prediction equation is necessary to estimate peak oxygen uptake in obese patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Purpose

The aims were to: (1) compare peak oxygen uptake ($\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak) predicted from four standard equations to actual $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak measured from a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) in obese patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), and (2) develop a new equation to accurately estimate $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak in obese women with MetS.

Methods

Seventy-five obese patients with MetS performed a CPET. Anthropometric data were also collected for each participant. $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak was predicted from four prediction equations (from Riddle et al., Hansen et al., Wasserman et al. or Gläser et al.) and then compared with the actual $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak measured during the CPET. The accuracy of the predictions was determined with the Bland–Altman method. When accuracy was low, a new prediction equation including anthropometric variables was proposed.

Results

$\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak predicted from the equation of Wasserman et al. was not significantly different from actual $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak in women. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between the predicted and actual values (p < 0.001, r = 0.69). In men, no significant difference was noted between actual $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak and $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak predicted from the prediction equation of Gläser et al., and these two values were also correlated (p = 0.03, r = 0.44). However, the LoA_95% was wide, whatever the prediction equation or gender. Regression analysis suggested a new prediction equation derived from age and height for obese women with MetS.

Conclusions

The methods of Wasserman et al. and Gläser et al. are valid to predict $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{2}$peak in obese women and men with MetS, respectively. However, the accuracy of the predictions was low for both methods. Consequently, a new prediction equation including age and height was developed for obese women with MetS. However, new prediction equation remains to develop in obese men with MetS.