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Peak oxygen uptake

Myth and truth about an internationally accepted reference value

Die maximale Sauerstoffaufnahme—Schein und Sein eines international anerkannten Referenzwertes

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Zusammenfassung

Dieser Beitrag beschäftigt sich kritisch mit der Durchführung von Messungen der maximalen Sauerstoffaufnahme (VO2peak) bei Herzpatienten und hinterfragt deren angemessene Interpretation. Im ersten Abschnitt werden die häufigsten klinischen Anwendungen von VO2peak-Messungen diskutiert: Abschätzung der funktionellen Kapazität sowie ihrer Veränderungen, Beurteilung der Notwendigkeit invasiver diagnostischer bzw. therapeutischer Maßnahmen, Bezugspunkt für Trainingsvorgaben und Prognosestellung. Der zweite Abschnitt befasst sich mit wichtigen methodischen Problemen und Einschränkungen, die anhand von wissenschaftlichen Studien illustriert sind. Schließlich werden Empfehlungen für möglichst aussagekräftige VO2-peak-Messungen abgeleitet. Es wird deutlich, dass irreführende ergometrische Befunde möglich sind, wenn man sich nicht streng an solche Vorgaben hält. Dies kann zu Über- oder Unterschätzungen sowohl der Ausdauerleistungsfähigkeit als auch vermeintlicher Trainingseffekte führen.

Summary

This article critically examines the execution of VO2-peak testing in cardiac patients and questions their appropriate interpretation. In the first part, the most common clinical implications of VO2peak measurements are discussed: assessment of (changes in) functional capacity, evaluation of the necessity of invasive diagnostic/therapeutic measures, reference for exercise prescriptions, determination of prognosis. In the second part, important methodological problems and constraints are addressed and illustrated by references to scientific studies. Finally, recommendations are given for meaningful VO2peak testing. It is evident that failure to strictly follow such recommendations might result in misleading ergometric findings and, thus, in over- or underestimation of endurance capacity and/ or training effects.

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  1. Institut für Sport- und Präventivmedizin, Universität des Saarlandes Campus, Geb. 39.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany

    T. Meyer, J. Scharhag & W. Kindermann

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Meyer, T., Scharhag, J. & Kindermann, W. Peak oxygen uptake. ZS Kardiologie 94, 255–264 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-005-0207-4

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