Longitudinal changes in aerobic power in older men and women

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the longitudinal (10 yr) decline in aerobic power [maximal O2 uptake (V̇o2 max)] and anaerobic threshold [ventilatory threshold (TV̇e)] of older adults living independently in the community. Ten years after initial testing, 62 subjects (34 men, mean age 73.5 ± 6.4 yr; 28 women, 72.1 ± 5.3 yr) achieved V̇o2 max criteria during treadmill walking tests to the limit of tolerance, with TV̇e determined in a subset of 45. V̇o2 max in men showed a rate of decline of −0.43 ml·kg−1·min−1·yr−1, and the decline in V̇o2 max was consequent to a lowered maximal heart rate with no change in the maximum O2 pulse. The women showed a slower rate of decline of V̇o2 max of −0.19·ml·kg−1·min−1·yr−1 ( P < 0.05), again with a lowered HRmax and unchanged O2 pulse. In this sample, lean body mass was not changed over the 10-yr period. Changes in V̇o2 max were not significantly related to physical activity scores. TV̇e showed a nonsignificant decline in both men and women. Groupings of young-old (65–72 yr at follow-up) vs. old-old (73–90 yr at follow-up) were examined. In men, there were no differences in the rate of V̇o2 max decline. The young-old women showed a significant decline in V̇o2 max, whereas old-old women, initially at a V̇o2 max of 19.4 ± 3.1 ml·kg−1·min−1, showed no loss in V̇o2 max. The longitudinal data, vs. cross-sectional analysis, showed a greater decline for men but similar estimates of the rates of change in women. Thus the 10-yr longitudinal study of the cohort of community-dwelling older adults who remained healthy, ambulatory, and independent showed a 14% decline in V̇o2 max in men, and a smaller decline of 7% in women, with the oldest women showing little change over the 10-yr period.