Top

BMC Public Health

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Construct validation of a non-exercise measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults

Authors: Emily L Mailey, Siobhan M White, Thomas R Wójcicki, Amanda N Szabo, Arthur F Kramer, Edward McAuley

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2010

Abstract

Background

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality but is rarely assessed in medical settings due to burdens of time, cost, risk, and resources. The purpose of this study was to test the construct validity of a regression equation developed by Jurca and colleagues (2005) to estimate CRF without exercise testing in community dwelling older adults.

Methods

Participants (n = 172) aged 60 to 80 years with no contraindications to submaximal or maximal exercise testing completed a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) and the submaximal Rockport 1-mile walk test on separate occasions. Data included in the regression equation (age, sex, body mass index, resting heart rate, and physical activity) were obtained via measurement or self-report. Participants also reported presence of cardiovascular conditions.

Results

The multiple R for the regression equation was .72, p < .001 and CRF estimated from this equation was significantly correlated with the MET value from the GXT (r = 0.66) and with CRF estimated from submaximal field testing (r = 0.67). All three CRF indices were significantly and inversely associated with reporting more cardiovascular conditions.

Conclusions

This research provides preliminary evidence that a non-exercise estimate of CRF is at least as valid as field test estimates of CRF and represents a low-risk, low-cost, and expedient method for estimating fitness in older adults.

Available only for authorised users

Blair SN, Kampert JB, Kohl HW, Barlow CE, Macera CA, Paffenbarger RS, Gibbons LW: Influences of cardiorespiratory fitness and other precursors on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in men and women. JAMA. 1996, 276 (3): 205-210. 10.1001/jama.276.3.205.CrossRefPubMed

Carnethon MR, Gulati M, Greenland P: Prevalence and cardiovascular disease correlates of low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents and adults. JAMA. 2005, 294 (23): 2981-2988. 10.1001/jama.294.23.2981.CrossRefPubMed

Colcombe SJ, Erickson KI, Raz N, Webb AG, Cohen NJ, McAuley E, Kramer AF: Aerobic fitness reduces brain tissue loss in aging humans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2003, 58 (2): 176-180.CrossRefPubMed

Colcombe SJ, Erickson KI, Scalf PE, Kim JS, Prakash R, McAuley E, Elavsky S, Marquez DX, Hu L, Kramer AF: Aerobic exercise training increases brain volume in aging humans. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006, 61 (11): 1166-CrossRefPubMed

Colcombe SJ, Kramer AF, Erickson KI, Scalf P, McAuley E, Cohen NJ, Webb A, Jerome GJ, Marquez DX, Elavsky S: Cardiovascular fitness, cortical plasticity, and aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2004, 101 (9): 3316-3321. 10.1073/pnas.0400266101.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Kramer AF, Hahn S, Cohen NJ, Banich MT, McAuley E, Harrison CR, Chason J, Vakil E, Bardell L, Boileau RA: Ageing, fitness and neurocognitive function. Nature. 1999, 400: 418-419. 10.1038/22682.CrossRefPubMed

Kline GM, Porcari JP, Hintermeister R, Freedson PS, Ward A, McCarron RF, Ross J, Rippe JM: Estimation of VO2 max from a one-mile track walk, gender, age, and body weight. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1987, 19: 253-259.CrossRefPubMed

Simonsick EM, Fan E, Fleg JL: Estimating cardiorespiratory fitness in well-functioning older adults: Treadmill validation of the Long Distance Corridor Walk. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006, 54 (1): 127-132. 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2005.00530.x.CrossRefPubMed

Simonsick EM, Montgomery PS, Newman AB, Bauer DC, Harris T: Measuring fitness in healthy older adults: The Health ABC Long Distance Corridor Walk. Geriatrics. 2001, 49 (11): 1544-1548. 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2001.4911247.x.

10.

Oja P, Laukkanen R, Pasanen M, Tyry T, Vuori I: A 2-km walking test for assessing the cardiorespiratory fitness of healthy adults. Int J Sports Med. 1991, 12 (4): 356-362. 10.1055/s-2007-1024694.CrossRefPubMed

11.

Fleg JL, Pina IL, Balady GJ, Chaitman BR, Fletcher B, Lavie C, Limacher MC, Stein RA, Williams M, Bazzarre T: Assessment of functional capacity in clinical and research applications: An advisory from the Committee on Exercise, Rehabilitation, and Prevention, Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association. Circulation. 2000, 102 (13): 1591-1597.CrossRefPubMed

12.

Morey MC, Pieper CF, Cornoni-Huntley J: Physical fitness and functional limitations in community-dwelling older adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998, 30 (5): 715-723. 10.1097/00005768-199805000-00012.CrossRefPubMed

13.

Ainsworth BE, Richardson MT, Jacobs DR, Leon AS: Prediction of cardiorespiratory fitness using physical activity questionnaire data. Med Exerc Nutr Health. 1992, 1: 75-82.

14.

George JD, Stone WJ, Burkett L: Non-exercise VO2 max estimation for physically active college students. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997, 29 (3): 415-423.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Jackson AS, Blair SN, Mahar MT, Wier LT, Ross RM, Stuteville JE: Prediction of functional aerobic capacity without exercise testing. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990, 22 (6): 863-870.CrossRefPubMed

16.

Jurca R, Jackson AS, LaMonte MJ, Morrow JR, Blair SN, Wareham NJ, Haskell WL, van Mechelen W, Church TS, Jakicic JM: Assessing cardiorespiratory fitness without performing exercise testing. Am J Prev Med. 2005, 29 (3): 185-193. 10.1016/j.amepre.2005.06.004.CrossRefPubMed

17.

Sallis JF, Patterson TL, Buono MJ, Nader PR: Relation of cardiovascular fitness and physical activity to cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adults. Am J Epidemiol. 1988, 127 (5): 933-941.PubMed

18.

Balke B, Ware RW: An experimental study of physical fitness of Air Force personnel. United States Armed Forces Medical Journal. 1959, 10 (6): 675-PubMed

19.

Froelicher VF, Thompson AJ, Davis G, Stewart AJ, Triebwasser JH: Prediction of maximal oxygen consumption: Comparison of the Bruce and Balke treadmill protocols. Chest. 1975, 68 (3): 331-336. 10.1378/chest.68.3.331.CrossRefPubMed

20.

Activity and Health Research, Allied Dunbar Fitness Survey: A report on activity patterns and fitness levels: Main findings. 1994, London: The Sports Council and Health Education Authority

21.

Bland JM, Altman DG: Statistical methods for assessing agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet. 1986, 327 (8476): 307-310. 10.1016/S0140-6736(86)90837-8.CrossRef

The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/59/prepub

Title: Construct validation of a non-exercise measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults
Authors: Emily L Mailey
Siobhan M White
Thomas R Wójcicki
Amanda N Szabo
Arthur F Kramer
Edward McAuley
Publication date: 01-12-2010
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-59

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Construct validation of a non-exercise measure of cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

The Eat Smart Study: A randomised controlled trial of a reduced carbohydrate versus a low fat diet for weight loss in obese adolescents

Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors between sri lankans living in kandy and oslo

Contingency management to reduce methamphetamine use and sexual risk among men who have sex with men: a randomized controlled trial

Development and validation of a population-based prediction scale for osteoporotic fracture in the region of Valencia, Spain: the ESOSVAL-R study

The influence of persistent pathogens on circulating levels of inflammatory markers: a cross-sectional analysis from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Randomised controlled trial of the effects of physical activity feedback on awareness and behaviourin UK adults: the FAB study protocol [ISRCTN92551397]