Artery Research

Volume 18, Issue C, June 2017, Pages 29 - 35

Estimation of maximal oxygen consumption and heart rate recovery using the Tecumseh sub-maximal step test and their relationship to cardiovascular risk factors

Authors
Alun D. Hughes*, Nish Chaturvedi
Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
*Corresponding author. E-mail address: alun.hughes@ucl.ac.uk (A.D. Hughes).
Corresponding Author
Alun D. Hughes
Received 18 November 2016, Revised 18 February 2017, Accepted 21 February 2017, Available Online 11 March 2017.
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2017.02.005How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Exercise; Cardiovascular risk; Oxygen consumption; Step test; Heart rate
Abstract

Background: Maximum aerobic capacity (VO2max) is associated with lower cardiovascular and total mortality. Step tests can be used to provide an estimate of (VO2max) in epidemiological or home-based studies. We compared different methods of estimation of VO2max and heart rate recovery and evaluated the relationship of these estimates with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: Data were analysed from 2286 participants in the Tecumseh Community Health Study (>16 y and <70 y) who performed a step test. VO2max was estimated from heart rate using three methods and the results compared. The magnitude of heart rate recovery (HRR) and the time constant of recovery based on different time intervals post-exercise were also estimated.

Results: Estimated VO2max showed good or poor agreement depending on the method used. VO2max correlated inversely with systolic blood pressure (SBP), body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, blood glucose following a 100 g oral load (PLG) and Framingham risk score. In a multivariable model age sex, cigarette smoking, SBP, BMI and PLG were significantly inversely associated with VO2max. Correlations with risk factors were strongest for HRR measured over the first 30 s of recovery. Only the time constant calculated from the 3 min post-exercise period correlated significantly with risk factors.

Conclusions: The Tecumseh step test can be used to provide estimates of VO2max and heart rate recovery. Estimated VO2max was inversely associated with higher systolic BP, higher BMI and worse glucose tolerance. Measurements of HRR over the first 30 s and the time constant calculate from the first 3 min of recovery correlate most closely with risk factors.

Copyright
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Journal
Artery Research
Volume-Issue
18 - C
Pages
29 - 35
Publication Date
2017/03/11
ISSN (Online)
1876-4401
ISSN (Print)
1872-9312
DOI
10.1016/j.artres.2017.02.005How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Alun D. Hughes
AU  - Nish Chaturvedi
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/03/11
TI  - Estimation of maximal oxygen consumption and heart rate recovery using the Tecumseh sub-maximal step test and their relationship to cardiovascular risk factors
JO  - Artery Research
SP  - 29
EP  - 35
VL  - 18
IS  - C
SN  - 1876-4401
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.artres.2017.02.005
DO  - 10.1016/j.artres.2017.02.005
ID  - Hughes2017
ER  -