Purpose
Exercise testing by cycle ergometer allows to observe the interaction between oxygen uptake (VO 2) and workload (W), and VO 2/W‐slope can be used as a diagnostic tool. Respectively, peak oxygen uptake (VO 2PEAK ) can be estimated by maximal workload. We aim to determine reference for VO 2/W‐slope among prepubertal children and define agreement between estimated and measured VO 2PEAK .
Methods
A total of 38 prepubertal children (20 girls) performed a maximal cycle ergometer test with respiratory gas analysis. VO 2/W‐slopes were computed using linear regression. Agreement analysis by Bland and Altman for estimated and measured VO 2PEAK was carried out including limits of agreement (LA ). Determinants for VO 2/W‐slopes and estimation bias were defined.
Results
VO 2/W‐slope was in both girls and boys ≥9·4 and did not change with exercise level, but the oxygen cost of exercise was higher among physically more active children. Estimated VO 2PEAK had 6·4% coefficient of variation, and LA varied from 13% underestimation to 13% overestimation. Bias had a trend towards underestimation along lean mass proportional VO 2PEAK . The primary determinant for estimation bias was VO 2/W‐slope (β = −0·65; P <0·001).
Conclusion
The reference values for VO 2/W‐slope among healthy prepubertal children were similar to those published for adults and among adolescents. Estimated and measured VO 2PEAK should not be considered to be interchangeable because of the variation in the relationship between VO 2 and W. On other hand, variation in the relationship between VO 2 and W enables that VO 2/W‐slope can be used as a diagnostic tool.