Comparison of Specific Prediction Equations to Estimate Peak Oxygen Uptake in Obese Women

The aim of the current study was to compare 2 equations to predict peak oxygen uptake (V̇O₂peak) in obese women, according to their obesity class. 92 maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing sets (CPET with initial and subsequent increments set to achieve an exercise duration between 8-12 min) were retrospectively analysed. These CPET were divided into 3 groups according to the women body mass indexes (BMI): class 1 (30 kg.m^-2≤BMI<35 kg.m^-2, n=22), class 2 (35 kg.m^-2≤BMI<40 kg.m^-2, n=36) or class 3 (BMI≥40 kg.m^-2, n=34). Each participant's V̇O₂peak was predicted from 2 prediction equations (from Wasserman et al.'s and Debeaumont et al.'s equations) and compared with the actual V̇O₂peak. Moreover, the correlations between these values were studied, and the accuracy of the predictions was analysed. Only predicted V̇O₂peak from the Debeaumont et al.'s equation was not significantly different from the actual V̇O₂peak in the women in obesity class 3 (p=0.89). Moreover, significant correlation was found between these values (p<0.001, r=0.68). The bias and the 95% limits of agreement represented -3.2±34.0%. In women in obesity class 3, Debeaumont et al.'s equation may be the accurate one to predict V̇O₂peak. However, the accuracy of predictions is low. Consequently, to improve this accuracy, new prediction equations for obese women are required according to the obesity class.