Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) Parameters in Normal Adult Population

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a widely applied clinical procedure. The aim of the present study was to acquire a comprehensive set of reference values for cardiopulmonary responses to exercise and to evaluate the possible associations with sex, age and body mass index (BMI). Methods: From files of 3,992 CEPT performed in the hospital during six years, 102 files of healthy individuals were selected from our laboratory. Athletes, patients with any known pathology, users on continuous medication and obese patients were excluded. Peak VO2 was considered max VO2. Analysis of essential parameters like the anaerobic threshold VO2, maximum ventilation and oxygen pulse according to sex, age, sedentary and active patients were carried out. Result: For this study 102 participants were enrolled. 32% of participants were woman and 68% of them were man. The Mean ±SD of the age was 36±12. Mean±SD of HR, HRR, O2Pulse, VO2max, VO2/kg, VCO2 and AT were 90±6, 18±11, 12±3, 1.93±0.59, 24.84±7.15, 2.29±0.71 and 1.15±0.49, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis was done for height, weight and age and no difference was detected between males and females. Conclusion: CPET in Iran is usually performed according to the standards of foreign countries and the results are interpreted mainly based on ATS reference values. Considering the ethnic, geographical and behavioral differences between Iranians and people of other nationalities, a new definition for normal values of CPET in Iran seems necessary.