Pneumologie 2009; 63 - V151
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1213993

Reference Values for Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Obese Individuals – Results from the SHIP Study

B Koch 1, C Schäper 2, T Ittermann 3, T Spielhagen 4, M Dörr 4, H Völzke 3, C Opitz 5, R Ewert 2, S Gläser 2
  • 1Klinik für Innere Medizin B, Medizinische Fakultät der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald
  • 2
  • 3Institute for Community Medicine, SHIP/Clinical-Epidemiological Research
  • 4Medical Faculty of the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University, Department of Cardiology
  • 5Department of Cardiology, DRK-Kliniken Berlin/Westend

Aim: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a widely applied clinical procedure. The study aim was to acquire a comprehensive set of reference values for cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in obese individuals.

Subjects and Methods: A standardised progressive incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer was applied to 1708 volunteers of a cross-sectional epidemiological survey, called „Study of Health in Pomerania – SHIP“. Individuals with cardiopulmonary disorders, echocardiographic or lung function pathologies as well as current smokers were excluded. The study sample was divided into participants with a BMI ≤30kg/m2 and >30kg/m2. The reference values for CPET parameters in the obese individuals were determined by regression analyses

Results: Of the participants, 317 current smokers and for medical reasons 632 individuals were excluded for not being representative of a healthy population. In total 173 obese individuals (BMI >30kg/m2) were contrasted to 534 normal and overweight individuals (BMI ≤30kg/m2), ages 25–80 years. In comparison to normal weight individuals, obese participants had lower values for V′O2, peak when adjusted to body weight and revealed a higher V′E-V′CO2 slope. Prediction equations were given for CPET parameters in obese individuals.Conclusion: The BMI has a significant influence on exercise parameters. This study provides the first comparative set of CPET reference values for obese individuals obtained in a large number of volunteers within a population based survey.