Validity and Reliability of the Huet Questionnaire to Assess Maximal Oxygen Uptake

Abstract

The usual fitness tests available to assess maximal oxygen uptake [Formula: see text] a key fitness component, are not particularly useful for epidemiological studies. Questionnaires to assess [Formula: see text] however, are simple, easy to use, and inexpensive. In 1986, Huet developed such a French general questionnaire, which now also has an English version. Its simplicity is interesting as it could be used to survey large populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of this Huet questionnaire in a sample of healthy French volunteers. A total of 108 subjects were included in this study, 88 males and 20 females. The validity of the questionnaire was checked using correlation coefficients and a Bland-Altman plot between questionnaire estimations and measures of [Formula: see text] obtained with a stress test on a cycle ergometer. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was also calculated to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Significant correlation was obtained with the Huet questionnaire and measured [Formula: see text] (r2 = 0.77, p = 0.0001, SEE = 5.97 ml•kg−1•min−1, n = 108). The ICC showed very high reliability (ICC = 0.988, n = 21). The Huet questionnaire is an easy, rapidly administered tool that correlated highly with [Formula: see text] in this sample population. Key words: physical activity, epidemiology, evaluation