Can Anaerobic Testing Be Used to Accurately Examine V̇O2max in Healthy Individuals? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Abstract
Context: The gold standard for examining cardiorespiratory performance (i.e., maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max)) involves completing a cardiopulmonary test, which requires both time and trained personnel. In comparison, anaerobic exercise tests examine musculoskeletal performance in a much shorter time. Current evidence suggests that oxygen consumption increases rapidly during maximal effort and that V˙O2max may be reached within 90 s during maximal exercise. Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature to determine if anaerobic exercise tests could examine both V˙O2max and anaerobic performance in healthy individuals. Design: This registered review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Eligibility Criteria: Eligible articles published until March 2024 were found in PubMed and EBSCO. Study Selection: After screening 1425 studies, a total of 7 studies were assessed. Main Outcome Measures: Both aerobic and anaerobic protocols and their associated V˙O2max values were extracted along with the percentage of measured V˙O2max that could be accounted for in the anaerobic test. Results: All studies used cycle ergometers with a range of protocols to assess V˙O2max using both aerobic and anaerobic tests. The maximal percentage of V˙O2max accounted for in anaerobic tests across the seven studies ranged from 91.0% to 101.2%, with the nearest association of 99.7% found using 60-s Wingate test cycling against a reduced load protocol of 9.5% to 7.5% of the subject’s body mass. Results from the meta-analysis demonstrate higher V˙O2max values in traditional exercise tests compared with anaerobic tests (effect size, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–1.08). Conclusion: This review suggests that attaining a similar V˙O2max when using traditional graded exercise tests and anaerobic tests largely depends on the testing protocol. Further research using standardized testing protocols is warranted to establish the utility of brief anaerobic tests for examining cardiorespiratory performance.

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