Is the Ventilatory Efficiency in Endurance Athletes Different?—Findings from the NOODLE Study

Abstract

Background: Ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular diseases and defines individuals’ responses to exercise. Its characteristics among endurance athletes (EA) remain understudied. In a cohort of EA, we aimed to (1) investigate the relationship between different methods of calculation of VE/VCO2 and (2) externally validate prediction equations for VE/VCO2. Methods: In total, 140 EA (55% males; age = 22.7 ± 4.6 yrs; BMI = 22.6 ± 1.7 kg·m−2; peak oxygen uptake = 3.86 ± 0.82 L·min−1) underwent an effort-limited cycling cardiopulmonary exercise test. VE/VCO2 was first calculated to ventilatory threshold (VE/VCO2-slope), as the lowest 30-s average (VE/VCO2-Nadir) and from whole exercises (VE/VCO2-Total). Twelve prediction equations for VE/VCO2-slope were externally validated. Results: VE/VCO2-slope was higher in females than males (27.7 ± 2.6 vs. 26.1 ± 2.0, p < 0.001). Measuring methods for VE/VCO2 differed significantly in males and females. VE/VCO2 increased in EA with age independently from its type or sex (β = 0.066–0.127). Eleven equations underestimated VE/VCO2-slope (from −0.5 to −3.6). One equation overestimated VE/VCO2-slope (+0.2). Predicted and observed measurements differed significantly in nine models. Models explained a low amount of variance in the VE/VCO2-slope (R2 = 0.003–0.031). Conclusions: VE/VCO2-slope, VE/VCO2-Nadir, and VE/VCO2-Total were significantly different in EA. Prediction equations for the VE/VCO2-slope were inaccurate in EA. Physicians should be acknowledged to properly assess cardiorespiratory fitness in EA.