Good cardiorespiratory fitness has been found to protect against cardiovascular diseases
and type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to investigate determinants of
directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen uptake [Vo2max]), including age, body composition, prevalent diseases, cardiovascular and pulmonary
functions, biochemical factors, physical activity, nutrition, smoking, and alcohol
consumption, in a population-based study of 936 men 42 to 60 years of age. Variables
that had the strongest direct associations with Vo2max (milliliters per minute) in a linear multivariate step-up regression model were body
weight, heart rate at maximal exercise, mean intensity and frequency of conditioning
physical activity, intake of carbohydrates, blood hemoglobin, and forced expiratory
volume in 1 second. The strongest inverse associations with Vo2max were heart rate at rest, age, fasting serum insulin, waist-to-hip ratio, coronary
heart disease, and asthma. This model accounted for 67% of the variation of Vo2max. In conclusion, mean intensity, frequency, and duration of conditioning physical
activity were associated directly with Vo2max. However, measurements of the function of pulmonary and cardiovascular systems, carbohydrate
intake, and body composition were powerful determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness,
especially in older middle-aged men.
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 23, 2009
Accepted:
January 31,
2009
Received in revised form:
January 31,
2009
Received:
November 16,
2008
Footnotes
This work was supported by grants from the Finnish Academy, the Ministry of Education of Finland, and the town of Kuopio, Finland.
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
