Exercise-induced hypoxaemia in highly trained cyclists at 40% peak oxygen uptake

Abstract

A group of 15 competitive male cyclists [mean peak oxygen uptake, V˙O_2peak 68.5 (SEM 1.5 ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹)] exercised on a cycle ergometer in a protocol which began at an intensity of 150 W and was increased by 25 W every 2 min until the subject was exhausted. Blood samples were taken from the radial artery at the end of each exercise intensity to determine the partial pressures of blood gases and oxyhaemoglobin saturation (S _aO₂), with all values corrected for rectal temperature. The S _a O₂ was also monitored continuously by ear oximetry. A significant decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (P _aO₂) was seen at the first exercise intensity (150 W, about 40% V˙O_2peak). A further significant decrease in P _aO₂ occurred at 200 W, whereafter it remained stable but still significantly below the values at rest, with the lowest value being measured at 350 W [87.0 (SEM 1.9) mmHg]. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (P _aCO₂) was unchanged up to an exercise intensity of 250 W whereafter it exhibited a significant downward trend to reach its lowest value at an exercise intensity of 375 W [34.5 (SEM 0.5) mmHg]. During both the first (150 W) and final exercise intensities (V˙O_2peak) P _aO₂ was correlated significantly with both partial pressure of oxygen in alveolar gas (P _AO₂, r = 0.81 and r = 0.70, respectively) and alveolar-arterial difference in oxygen partial pressure (P _A−aO₂, r = 0.63 and r = 0.86, respectively) but not with P _aCO₂. At V˙O_2peak P _aO₂ was significantly correlated with the ventilatory equivalents for both oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide output (r = 0.58 and r = 0.53, respectively). When both P _AO₂ and P _A−aO₂ were combined in a multiple linear regression model, at least 95% of the variance in P _aO₂ could be explained at both 150 W and V˙O_2peak. A significant downward trend in S _aO₂ was seen with increasing exercise intensity with the lowest value at 375 W [94.6 (SEM 0.3)%]. Oximetry estimates of S _aO₂ were significantly higher than blood measurements at all times throughout exercise and no significant decrease from rest was seen until 350 W. The significant correlations between P _aO₂ and P _AO₂ with the first exercise intensity and at V˙O_2peak led to the conclusion that inadequatehyperventilation is a major contributor to exercise-induced hypoxaemia.